A woman has spoken of her surprise and gratitude after a woman who had bought old bedroom furniture from her handed her a sentimental gold watch she found hidden away behind one of the drawers.

Doris Bezzina said she had sold the furniture for a few euros. A few days later the woman she sold it to, Maria Dolores Pace, phoned to say she could not open one of the drawers. She asked her son to look into the problem.

Doris Bezzina was hugely surprised when a long-forgotten gold watch was returned to her.

It was he who noticed a small box hidden away behind one of the drawers, containing a man's watch.

"The watch belonged to my late father-in-law. It was 100 per cent solid gold with his name inscribed on it... It was given to him when he retired as a harbour pilot and he passed away a few months later," Mrs Bezzina told Times of Malta.

"We had not seen the watch for 18 years and had forgotten about it. I never thought about looking behind the drawers before selling the furniture. The watch was still in excellent condition, and my mother-in-law was overjoyed when I handed it back to her as a memento of her late husband."

Mrs Bezzina, who also recounted the experience on Facebook, said she could not thank Ms Pace enough. She refused any kind of reward.

“You are a great woman and god will bless you,” she said.

Her story drew a chorus of approval on Facebook.

“Thanks for sharing, Honest people exist, thank God,” one Facebook follower said, echoing the views of many.

“Thank God for such decent people. Something like this gives me hope,” said another.