I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to a local man who went out of his way to help me when I was in a most distressing and difficult situation on my summer holiday in Dorset.

I visited Maiden Castle, near Dorchester, with a friend at whose house I was staying. We walked the length of the hill. On returning to the car park, I found I had lost my car keys somewhere on the top. I returned and looked, but was unable to find them, by which time it was growing late.

My mobile phone was locked in the car, and my friend’s was out of charge. He lives neat Shaftesbury, an hour’s drive from Maiden Castle. We were stranded and unable to summon help. To make matters worse, I had no spare ignition key – the lost one was my only one.

At this point a man arrived, walking his dogs. I asked if he could help us. Well, I think he must have been a guardian angel! He let me use his mobile phone to call the police station, but we were too late to catch them.

So he drove us all the way back to my friend’s house (an hour) collected a spare car door key, and ran me back to Maiden Castle to see if I had locked the ignition key in the boot. It was not there. He then ran me back to Shaftesbury, and went back home – a total of four hours driving!

I would like to thank this man, but I don’t even know his name. All I know is that he is a Royal Marine, he has several dogs and he walks them every day at Maiden Castle. He is a most unusual gentleman who did far more for me than anyone has a right to expect. He was the redeeming light in the whole situation.

And by the way – I revisited Maiden Castle the following day, and I found the car keys on top!

Frances Levett, Eastfield Avenue, Leicestershire