Man gets 1980 plate back after accidental donation

The plate bearing Tom Spain's vital statistics at birth was accidentally donated to a charity shop

A personalised plate bearing the birth details of a man born in 1980 has been returned to him after it was accidentally donated to a charity shop.

The crockery, which marks Tom Spain's name, birthday and birth weight, was spotted on sale in The Air Ambulance Charity Shop in Oadby, Leicestershire.

An image of the plate was then shared on Facebook to trace the mystery owner, with the post liked more than 17,000 times.

Online sleuths then tracked down Mr Spain, who lives about 10 miles away in Market Harborough, and the plate is now back in the family.

The plate was unique, so the charity shop did not expect it to be sold

Mr Spain, 45, said: "I was clearing out my parents' house in Oadby and it must have ended up in the wrong box and got sent to the charity shop.

"Then it was bizarre, one evening I started to get loads of messages from all different people in my life. I had no idea what was going on.

"When I saw it was the plate going viral online, I thought it was all a joke."

Luckily, the plate hadn't been sold after the photo was widely shared - and a friend managed to pick it up for Mr Spain a few days later.

Mr Spain added: "I am a bit terrified to tell my mum because she likes to keep everything, so she might be slightly annoyed.

"I will have to take it round to her house now and assure her it isn't missing."

The plate ended up on the shelves of The Air Ambulance Charity Shop in Oadby

The unusual item had been shared on a Facebook group with more than 168,500 members, in which shoppers showcase the more unusual and unique items they find on sale in charity stores.

Staff said the appeal had led to an increase in footfall to the shop, which raises money for the local air ambulance service providing emergency treatment.

Shop manager Iseult Cooke said: "I am so glad we didn't throw it away.

"We get hundreds of donations every week, so it just got put out on the shop floor but we didn't think it would sell because it's such a unique piece.

"Something that you might not think is special to you, actually is really special to someone else."