TWO long-term friends who live on different sides of the world will meet up next year for a special christening —and it is all thanks to the kindness of strangers.

Janey Bryson from Albaston has spent every weekend during the summer at car boot sales to raise money for her friend, Carys Morgan, to come over to the UK and be godmother to her baby son, Matthew, at his christening in May next year.

In just a few months Janey has raised £1,300, making it possible to buy single mother Carys the return airfare, but what she has learned in that time has given her huge faith in humanity.

'The first car boot I went to I put up a poster saying I was raising money for the airfare and strangers came up to me and said they had stuff I could have,' she said.

'One lady offered me the contents of her holiday home she was getting rid of in Looe and I was given designer dresses and dresses with labels still in that had never been worn — and a gold ring.

'The really good stuff I sold on eBay but the rest I sold at the car boots at Sevenstones and St Ive.

'People were so kind. It just shows in this day and age, when everyone is hard up, when you show an act of kindness to someone it can be amazing what you get back.

'It has really given me belief in humanity.

'I want to thank everyone who has made it possible for Carys to come here. She has several jobs just to support her and her children and could never have found the money herself.'

The two women, both 48, met through a Reiki course 16 years ago after they both emigrated to Australia. They instantly became friends and when Janey split up with her partner, Carys was her support.

Janey ended up back in the UK and married her first love but the pair, who say they are like 'soul sisters', have kept in touch through Facebook and letters, and Janey visits every few years.

'Carys is such a deserving person and has given so much to other people in her life,' added Janey, mother to Daniel, three, and eight-month-old Matthew.

'Once we raised $3,500 selling Cornish cream teas in an Australian garden centre for children with cancer. I can't wait for my boys to meet her.'

Carys said she would be forever grateful to her friend who had loaded up her car with items, a baby and toddler every weekend and to everyone who had made this visit possible: 'I hope to visit some of the car boot sales and thank people personally who helped.

'Their generosity is fantastic and it proves there are still many good people in the world.'