MOONRAKER regular Les Howcroft decided to take his grandson, Ryan, for a quick getaway week on the Greek isle of Zante.

Pals waved them off last Thursday -- but by Saturday morning Les was on the phone with an SOS to his favourite King Street watering hole. Disaster. He'd lost his wallet containing credit cards, cash and travellers' cheques -- and needed replacements sending out. Ever helpful landlord Eustace Collier's son, Charlie, went out to arrange emergency funds, but in the meantime a text message had come through from Greece -- from a honeymooning Dutchman who was swimming in the sea and found Les' wallet, containing his son Wayne's number, floating in the water.

Thanks to his honesty and hi-tech phones a message was sent via the Moonraker to say that the funds were safe.

When Les, of Duke Street, rang the pub later to see if his request had been sorted he was astounded to hear that the wallet had in fact been found intact, and he should meet the honest Dutchman in the resort of Laganas to retrieve it. What a happy ending to what could have been a calamitous holiday.

It just goes to show:

1. It doesn't pay to keep all your eggs in one basket. Put your cash and cheques in the hotel safe

2. Mobile phones are a boon after all

3. There's nothing like a good pub landlord to depend on for help when you need it. And that's one thing Eustace has been for as long as I can remember!