‘I never expected such kindness’

Jacqui Holden, 49, from Grange Road, Hayes, took out the personal loan of £2,000 to pay back her customers when the hamper firm folded last month.

This week Reed Employment in Hayes offered to pay Jacqui back for her kindness so she can enjoy a happy Christmas without worrying about paying back the loan.

Alec Reed, founder of Reed Employment, said: "We heard about the generosity of Jacqui Holden and, in recognition of her amazing customer service, we are donating £2,000 from her local Reed Employment branch on Hayes so that she can pay off her loan immediately."

He added: "We feel that she has gone over and above the call of duty and such selflessness should be acknowledged."

Jacqui told the Hillingdon Times: "I am just shellshocked. I didn't think that anybody would do something like this. I did what I did because I felt so bad for the people who had been saving but now I am being paid back as well. I never expected such kindness. I still can't believe it."

Jacqui first made the headlines when she decided to take out the loan on the day of the Farepack collapse.

She spoke to her husband, John, and between them they decided they had to do something.

She said: "Farepack didn't tell us anything. The first I knew about it was because it was in the news. I felt sick and decided that day that I would get a loan out to give these people their money back.

"The loan was at least manageable, it wasn't as though it was for £50,000. And the people who saved with me had saved all year. Some of them were pensioners or on low income and they had been expecting their Christmas vouchers any day. I just couldn't bear it."

Jacqui said she was stunned when Reed Employment intervened and said the company would pay her back for her kindness.

She said: "If the people who I gave the money back to feel half as good as I do, then I am even more glad I did it.

"I feel so amazed that there are people out there who want to do the right thing and to be so kind. They have made my day."