A Rugby mum is beaming with pride after her 12-year-old daughter was at the centre of a remarkable act of kindness that has pulled at the heartstrings of thousands.
Nina Murray said she could not be any more proud of Ella-Rose after her role in a two-tiered gesture of goodwill that has "gone viral".
Aware of the stresses and strain her emergency services-worker mum had been under, Ella-Rose popped to the shop to buy her flowers.
But the Ashlawn School pupil was left crestfallen when her goHenry debit card, topped up by her parents for performing chores around the house, was declined at the checkout at Aldi in Hillmorton.
Ella-Rose forgot the flowers she had kindly bought for an elderly neighbour a few days earlier which had taken her over the weekly spending limit set by her mum.
"Because she had spent money on someone who in essence is an absolute stranger, she had no money left on her card, "Nina told WarwickshireLive.
"She bought a packet of sweets as well (as the flowers) and asked for the cashier to take those off, but the payment still wouldn't go through.
"She told me she was really upset and embarrassed. As she went to leave the store the cashier called her back and said the man behind her in the queue had paid for her shopping.
"He was there loading shopping with his two young boys, saw the situation my daughter was in and wanted to help.
"Ella said 'thank you' and told him how grateful she was. She waited for him to leave the store and then thanked him again when he went over to his car."
It wasn't until Ella got home that Nina, 48, learned of the story.
"I opened the door and she just burst into tears," Nina added.
"Ella said she wanted to buy me flowers, but that she couldn't even do that properly!
"She said I always look after other people and that it was time someone did something for her."
Nina said her "extremely pressured" job in the emergency services meant she had been forced to work long hours and was not able to see so much of her daughter.
"She's seen how hard it's been and the stress I've been under," Nina said.
"The past two weeks have been especially hard which is why she wanted to buy the flowers.
"I know the shopping would not have cost much money, but it would have seemed a significant amount to Ella-Rose.
"So for the man to do what he did was wonderful, really."
Nina posted the heartwarming story on Facebook on Monday and was "overwhelmed" by the response.
More than 1,200 people 'liked' it, while the post also attracted more than 140 comments.
Nina ended the note by saying "from both of us a very very big thank you to whoever it was and I really hope the power of fb (Facebook) will get this message to him."
Sure enough, the message did reach him! Martin Williams acknowledged the thanks and kind words replying, quite simply, "my pleasure".
It was the latest in a long line of kind-hearted sentiments from Ella-Rose who raided her piggy bank to buy her extended family Christmas presents.
The sweet youngster, who lives with her mum and dad Steve, 58, at the family home in Houlton, befriended an elderly neighbour last summer.
"She thought the lady seemed lonely and so she visited her every couple of months," Nina added.
"Most 12-year-olds would not even notice that let alone see if the person was okay and visit them.
Get a daily briefing on the latest Warwickshire stories with our free email alerts
Our email updates are the best way to ensure you stay in the loop with everything that's happening in Warwickshire.
Every day our news editors hand-pick the best stories from Rugby, Warwick, Leamington Spa, North Warwickshire, Stratford-on-Avon and more, before sending them straight to your inbox in one easy-to-read email.
To sign up, just head over to this page, enter your email address, and tick "Warwickshire Live news".
"People have said how lovely my little girl is and how kind she is and that's when I get a bit emotional.
"People say she's got an old soul. That she's like an old woman who looks after other people.
"I'd like to think me and her father have raised her well and that we as a family take a lot of pleasure from giving to people.
"That's how I was raised, that it was always nicer to give a gift than to receive one, and maybe she's taken that on."
Keep up with the latest news with our email alerts directly to your inbox. Sign up here
