A MYSTERIOUS man paid for a restaurant's customers' meals and drinks in an 'act of kindness'.

The owner of Balls of Prudhoe, Anne Ball Blakeburn, was 'stunned' to silence when a 'kind gentleman' asked to pay for the food and drinks of six other customers in the restaurant on Friday, September 13.

The family-run business on Front Street is a popular restaurant, tea room and fish and chip takeaway.

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"He came in and had his meal and the restaurant in the front was full of ladies. When he finished his meal, he paid one of the assistants and asked if he could have a word with her outside. When she went outside, he said 'I would like to pay for everyone's meals in the restaurant as an act of kindness'," Anne said. 

They totalled the bill up and asked the man if he wanted to go in and tell the ladies he was paying their bill, but he said he wanted Anne to tell them.

The man, who was from Prudhoe, had a cup of coffee while Anne told the customers in the restaurant.

"I was stunned, I could hardly speak," she said. She told customers: "In the 54 years we've been here, I've never experienced this, but this kind gentleman wants to pay for all of your food tonight - they were absolutely delighted, they were so shocked."

"It was a moment in my life I'll not forget," she added. "I don't know his name, he said he didn't want to disclose who he was but just wanted to do it as an act of kindness. He didn't want to do it to make himself known." 

Anne said: "This is what makes my job worthwhile. It's days like that, through all your hard work, it's times like that makes my job so rewarding."