Ammon News - A Waterstone's employee said he had his "faith in humanity restored" by a mystery shopper who overheard a little boy enthusiastically discussing his favourite books with a member of staff.

A bookseller was left in awe after a kind-hearted mystery shopper bought books for a little boy with a passion for reading.

Chris Heale, who works as an Expert Book Seller for the children's section in Waterstone's in Hull, said that pre-coronavirus, a boy aged around 12 would often come in and spend many hours browsing the books and chatting to staff about his love of reading.

Now that coronavirus restrictions have eased, the eager book worm was able to return to the store, reports Hull Live, where he casually chatted to Chris about what books he'd planned to read next.

Unbeknownst to the pair, a mystery shopper overheard their conversation and was so blown away by the boy's enthusiasm for reading that he offered to buy him some books.

Explaining what happened, Chris said: "This young boy comes into the shop very regularly and is very enthusiastic about books. He always came in with his mum and he just absolutely loves books.

"Then lockdown happened, and he came back for his very first visit yesterday and he was overcome with excitement and came up to me and was talking about what he wanted to read, and how during lockdown he'd finish his work early every day so he could read.

"While he then was off looking for books, another customer came up and said to me 'can I buy a gift card?' And then he said he wanted to give it to the little boy who loves reading, as it's very difficult to get boys to read and how wonderful it was that he is so enthusiastic. He didn't want them to know he'd bought it, and he left."

When the boy and his mum went to the till to pay, Chris told them a stranger had gifted the boy two books - Wind in the Willows, and Treasure Island.

"I could see the emotion in their faces straight away, the boy was speechless at first and then said 'thank you'. It was absolutely lovely to see.

"It was just such a heart-warming experience, and I did recognise the customer who bought the books, and I want him to know what books he'd chosen and what the reaction was like. It really did restore my faith in humanity, we don't hear enough of things like this happening," he added.

*MIRROR