A SENIOR citizen from Gourock was almost reduced to tears when kind Sainsbury's staff bought her a mobility walker.

Heather McVean is a regular customer in the Kempock Street store, visiting daily for shopping and to chat to staff.

The 88-year-old has problems with her spine, and standing in socially distanced queues was taking its toll.

Staff had noticed she was having difficulty so they decided to buy her a walking aid to take some strain off her back.

Duty manager Laura Hyland said around 20 workers chipped in to surprise the plucky pensioner.

Laura said: "Heather is a regular at our store and has been for years, she is like our resident granny.

"Last year we actually hosted a birthday party for her in Aulds, she is so well known along Kempock Street.

"We are usually able to help her home with her shopping but with everything going on it has been hard to leave the store.

"She had been struggling to stand in the queues due to the lasting impact fracturing her spine has had. We wanted to get her this to make her days a bit easier."

Heather has lived on Kempock Street for around 50 years and was a home help around Inverclyde, so this gift has given her some confidence on her feet again.

The Gourock grandmother said: "I am so thankful to the all of my friends in Sainsbury's, I was absolutely blown away.

"I was really down a few years after I lost my mobility, so they have no idea what this means to me.

"Coming in here cheers me up every day, I am so lucky to have made such good friends."

Heather was one of the first people to move into the Kempock Street houses, so she shares stories with the staff about Gourock in days gone by.

She has only had her new walking aid for a few days but says it has made a tremendous difference.

She told the Tele: "I can't explain how much easier this has made things. It has space for my shopping to go and a seat for when I get tired and need to sit down.

"I was shocked, amazed and thrilled and I cannot thank them enough for everything they do for me."