ICE cream lovers in Crickhowell were left feeling far from cold after finding their treat had been paid for by a generous stranger.

Pavlova Coffee & Gelato was sent a donation intended to cover the cost of the first 22 ice creams served on Sunday, April 22 as a “random act of kindness”.

Manager Claire Stephens said the letter arrived at the High Street premises around the middle of last week.

“It was completely anonymous, someone who’s been a customer of ours at some point, and they seem to visit Wales once a year, and we were one of six places listed, over six months, were they’d sent money to do a random act of kindness,” said Claire.

“There were all sorts of different places since September last year. A soup kitchen in Manchester, a cinema in Australia, a coffee house in America and an ale house in New Zealand and we were the last on this list.”

The letter asked the business to give an ice cream, at no charge, to the first 22 people to order one on April 22. It read: “Can you please give a free ice cream to the first 22 people who order an ice cream on 22nd April. I have enclosed the money that should cover this.”

The donor also included a note, explaining the reason why there was no charge for the ice cream, to be given to the customer. The note read: “Your ice cream today has been paid for you by a random act of kindness. I have no connection with Pavlova other than a regular visit to Crickhowell area every summer. It’s a beautiful area! Hope you enjoy your ice cream and share the love.”

Claire said, unsurprisingly, customers were delighted and a little surprised to find they didn’t have to pay for their cone.

“We opened at 10.30am and the first ice cream went out probably at about 11.15am we had quite a lot of people through and people were chuffed to bits. One lady stopped on her way to catch a cruise from Southampton for her honeymoon. We had all sorts of comments and one lady said she was going to try and contact Radio 4.

“The first person was actually a young lad and I don’t think he could quite believe he was allowed to leave without paying.

“Some people said it would inspire them to do something similar.

“We went over the 22, and kept going until all the money had ran out, which was about an hour before closing.”

Customers shared their delight on social media but Claire said she’s none the wiser as to who the mystery donor is. She said: “The letter was sent from the UK and postmarked Manchester but I’m not sure that means anything as whoever the people are they seem to do quite a lot of travelling.

“It was nice to be able to do something like that. It was already a lovely day and to give people ice cream and say they didn’t have to pay was really lovely.”