A MUf-three broke down in tears when an anonymous donor sent her £400 through the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Yolanda Hillman, who has two disabled children, was overcome with emotion when she opened the envelope to find a bundle of ten and twenty pound notes.

The envelope was handed in to the Evening Telegraph's Darwen office by a woman who said it was to be spent on whatever Yolanda thought best. The envelope simply said: "To Yolanda. All the best."

Yolanda, of Hareden Brook Close, Blackburn, said: "People can be so good. It's like Santa Claus has come early. Whoever it is, thank you so much."

Her story was highlighted in the Evening Telegraph two weeks ago when she claimed she had asked social workers for temporary help to look after her two disabled children and been told to give them up if she couldn't cope.

Yolanda said she couldn't bear to have 11-year-old Kylie and nine-year-old Christian taken into care, but she needed an occasional break from looking after them so she could give more attention to her youngest, five-year-old Shauna. Christian is partially sighted and deaf with mobility problems and Kylie is also partially deaf. They both have learning difficulties and behavioural problems. She had asked for both children to be taken to a respite home at the same time but been told they could only be taken separately as they needed so much attention.

She said Blackburn with Darwen Council had now agreed to take them both for respite care at the same time.

She said: "I'm so pleased they can go together because I've been at the end of my tether.

"I'd like to thank the Evening Telegraph too, you've been smashing."

Yolanda plans to use some of the money to buy a doll for Shauna, a Steps CD for Kylie and a gameboy for Christian, as well as some new clothes for the children.

She also asked the council to install a shower and her case is now being considered. A Darwen woman, who also asked to remain anonymous, has contacted the Evening Telegraph and offered to pay for a shower to be installed.