Palmira Díaz, 52, found a handbag at the back of a coach while cleaning it at 07.00hrs on Tuesday and, when she opened it, found a huge quantity of cash inside.

She said she was so incredulous at the sight of it that she went weak at the knees and had to sit down, before calling her manager, Sonia Alonso, who in turn called a security guard to accompany them to the National Police station at the bus station.

Officers counted out the money in the presence of all three, which turned out to be 13,900 euros and 2,900 yuans.

Various credit cards and other documentation were inside the bag.

An hour later, a Chinese man reported that his wife, who had been travelling with him on one of the buses, had lost her handbag.

They had been carrying the money in cash as it was a deposit on a new business they were purchasing in the city.

Palmira, who is widowed with two daughters – one of whom is unemployed – said the money, which amounted to about a year's salary, would have 'come in very handy' but that her 'job and conscience' were 'worth more than any amount of cash.