TV prankster Jeremy Beadle put a Farnworth security guard in the frame when he arrived at the Asda store to spring a magic moment on him.

Stuart Stones, aged 20, has worked as a security guard and "greeter" at the Brackley Street supermarket for two years but he had no idea that his friendly manner with customers would result in a meeting with the master of surprises.

Farnworth mum Mercedes Jordan was so impressed with the help Stuart gave her on her regular shopping trips that she nominated him for a Quality Street Magic Moment.

And as Mercedes and four-year-old son Anthony presented the stunned Stuart with a prize of a box of Quality Street there was another surprise for the security guard when joker Jeremy tapped him on the shoulder and asked "Would you like to take a chocolate?"

A crowd of amazed shoppers gathered to watch Stuart open the box to find a cheque for £500 and then another for the same amount was presented to 24-year-old Mercedes.

"You get some security guards who are miserable swines but Stuart's not. He is always happy," commented Mercedes, of Cherry Tree Avenue, Farnworth.

"Once I had to make a phone call and so Stuart took over Anthony. He is always picking him up and playing with him."

A mobile phone was produced so Stuart and Jeremy could let Stuart's fiancee Lisa Nelson in on the good news.

But Stuart, of Holcombe Close, Kearsley, was determined not to blow his windfall on celebrating.

"We are in the middle of buying a house at the moment so it will come in very useful," he said.

The campaign run by Quality Street invites the public to nominate someone they feel deserves a magic moment for their consistent acts of kindness.

Stuart was one of just 10 people chosen from thousands of nominations from around the country.

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