Christmas came early for two Whanganui boys yesterday when a family struck by a fire met a kind stranger.
Michael Cooper and Jessica Firmin lost thousands of dollars of possessions when their Durham St garage caught fire last weekend.
Among the items destroyed were two new drift bikes, Christmas presents for the couple's sons Ihaia, seven and Te Awanui, four.
Other items included clothing and other hand-me-down items destined for Hospice Whanganui, friends and neighbours.
"We just had a big clear out and had bagged everything up to give away," Ms Firmin said.