While Christmas is the season of good will to all men, a big-hearted shoe mender has been thanked for the kindness he has shown to a young girl all year round.

Diana Staplehurst contacted the Richmond and Twickenham Times this week to ask if we could give a public thank you to Tony Mumford, owner of Toe Knees shoe repairs shop in Church Street, Twickenham.

Mrs Staplehurst visits the shoe mender at least once a month with her 11-year-old daughter Anna who suffers from Cerebral Palsy and walks with a stick or a frame.

The grateful Twickenham mother said: “She goes through shoes so quickly because of the way she walks.

“Tony has managed to patch up shoes in the most creative way for her to make them last just a week or two longer than they would, which is no more that five weeks.

“He very often does not charge me for this, or if he does it is a nominal amount.”

Mrs Staplehurst, who lives in Copthall Gardens, said Anna’s shoes have needed to be repaired on a more regular basis since she started at Orleans Park School, in Twickenham, as she is on her feet more than at primary school She said: “She goes through shoes like you wouldn’t believe but Tony makes them last a lot longer.

“People like Tony do not come along very often, but when they do, it restores my faith in human nature.”

Anna said: ”I would like to thank him for being so kind.”

She added she liked the way Mr Mumford added extra rubber to the shoe without it being obvious so her peers did not notice.

Mr Mumford, 42, has run the shop in Church Street since 2003, after moving from his original premises in Heath Road, and works alongside his assistant, also called Tony.

He said: “I just see it as a different job. Anna’s always been a sweetie.

“It makes such a difference when someone says thank you.”