Good Samaritan cop goes viral

This touching moment prompted a huge online response Photo: Facebook/Northamptonshire Police

A heart-warming picture of a British police officer helping an elderly man with his shopping has gone viral.

PC Chris Stevens has been widely applauded online after being seen assisting with the heavy bags in Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire.

The elderly gentleman had caught the wrong bus and was faced with the prospect of a long walk home before PC Stevens' act of kindness.

Northamptonshire Police posted the image, taken by a passer-by, on their Facebook page and it quickly spread, eliciting thousands of comments from people touched by the scene.

PC Stevens then commented on the photo, shedding more light on the story.

"This picture could have been any one of my hard-working colleagues who do this sort of thing everyday so the recognition should be shared," he wrote.

He went on to compliment the man he was seen to be helping: "ultimately though the most recognition needs to go to the lovely man who despite being 83 years old manages to catch the bus into town and bring his shopping home to his wife."

"I was absolutely honoured to carry his shopping for him."