'It wasn't a Gucci bag but this was a Gucci recovery service'

A woman has been reunited with her handbag containing £500 in Christmas present money after it was accidentally collected with her recycling - in what she has called a "Gucci recovery service".

Tracy Williams, from Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, had been recycling wrapping paper and had filled about 10 bags to be collected.

But she said her "heart stopped" when she realised the handbag, which had been on the kitchen worktop next to the recycling, was missing when she went to go shopping the next day.

A recycling crew from Rhondda Cynon Taf council said they spent three hours searching at Bryn Pica Recycling Centre before a "miracle" struck and they managed to find it.

Tracy said her "knees went weak" when she realised what had happened.

"By the time I ran outside, the street was empty. To make it even worse the bag contained my mother's money, together with mine, totalling £500," she said.

"I rarely have cash on me, but it was from all the Christmas presents."

After calling the highways team, Tracy said they were helpful but advised "it was going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack, made worse with all the extra Christmas recycling".

That week the council had collected over 800 tonnes of recycling, filling about 28 recycling vehicles.

The head of waste services was contacted who alerted crews and tracked down the vehicle to find out where the recycling would have been taken.

Three hours of searching later, the team at Bryn Pica Recycling Centre made the discovery and found the handbag and its contents.

Thanking the search team, Tracy said their actions meant "so much to me and the whole family".

"I know it wasn't easy for them and I'm so grateful that they did this for me. The crews are always so helpful, but this next level service, it wasn't a Gucci bag, but this was a Gucci recovery service."

Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's cabinet member for environmental services, said: "Not only have we once again had one of the greenest Christmases on record, but our crews are now performing miracles, what an amazing way to start the New Year and take us into 2026.

"Thank you as always to the streetcare team and crews, I know this is an incredibly busy time for them and their hard work is appreciated by us all."