A SEASONAL superhero has delivered a true Christmas miracle after returning a package of festive gifts to an elderly gentlemen who dropped them in a river.

Martin Camroux, 75, was walking in to Colchester’s city centre on Wednesday to post Christmas presents to his mother-in-law and do some festive shopping.

However, disaster struck when he slipped on the ice and hit his head while making his way across North Bridge, dropping his gifts into the River Colne in the process.

As the photographs, photo calendar and handmade book floated away, Mr Camroux watched on dejectedly, resigning himself to the fact he would never see them again.

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But, the following day, he was left dumbstruck when he received a visit from Good Samaritan Sue Hyett, who had retrieved his soggy presents from the river.

“The absolutely wonderful Sue knocked on my door and returned the presents,” added Mr Camroux, who is a retired United Reformed Church minister.

"There was a calendar made by my daughter Eleanor with a photo of family members on each page, which is slightly damp in one corner, a hand-made note book sent by my son's family, and some photos of our granddaughter Olwen.

“Someday this will be a sermon story and it will be true. It is a story to restore faith in human goodness.”

In the true spirit of Christmas, Sue tracked down Mr Camroux after embarking on a  mission to find him, knocking on doors and searching all over social media.

She said: “I’ve been going out every day on my paddleboard to feed the swans and I’m always cleaning rubbish out of the river, which is what I thought the package was.

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“I saw it floating near some reeds and paddled over to fish it out, then I saw it was actually an unopened package, so I put it on the board and paddled home.

“It turned out it was an undelivered Christmas present and after Googling, Facebooking and door-knocking I tracked his lovely man Martin.

“Martin was amazed and so excited he gave me a big kiss and a box of chocolates - he was just so thrilled and I got to meet a lovely man, his wife and neighbours.”

“I’m so surprised at everyone’s reactions because surely anyone would do the same. But if it will make people happy… and goodness knows people need cheering up.”