A mum felt like all her Christmases had come at once when she bumped into Tom Hardy while shopping in County Durham.
Nicole Ryder came face to face with her "celebrity crush" at Smyths Toys Superstore in Stockton on Christmas Eve.
The 28-year-old had visited the store with her partner to buy a last-minute gift for her son when she spotted the Hollywood star in the car park. Nicole, from Trimdon Village, couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Tom Hardy pushing trolleys out of an empty space so he could park.
"We were behind him in the car park he got out of the car and moved some trolleys from an empty parking space so he could park there," Nicole said.
"He gave us a wave for waiting behind him and my partner couldn't believe his eyes and as he said, 'that's Tom Hardy!'
"I looked up and couldn't quite believe it! We then parked near him with a van between us and as I got out of the car I was going to ask for a picture but I didn't think he would want to be bothered by me."
Nicole even spotted the Batman and Peaky Blinders actor giving money to a homeless man on his way into the store and said she eventually plucked up the courage to ask for a picture.
"As we walked in he gave some money to the homeless man outside of the shop which just goes to show he's just a normal kind-hearted bloke," Nicole said.
"We then went and got what we needed in the shop [but] I just couldn't leave without going to see him, so I found him in one of the aisles and plucked up the courage to ask him if I could have a photo.
"I told him I was too nervous to ask in the car park. He was so kind as to say yes. I said, 'thank you' and wished him a Merry Christmas and he replied with the same.
"I went about my day completely star-struck!"
During his shopping trip, Tom Hardy also delighted other fans including Eliza Cartwright, 13, and her dad Michael, by posing for pictures inside the store. But it's not the first time the Bronson star has been spotted in the North East, as his wife, actress Charlotte Riley, is from Thorpe Thewles near Stockton.
"It was really nice to see him just going about his business doing some shopping," Nicole added.
"We only happened to be there as my partner wanted to get our youngest son an electric quad bike. I thought it was too much as he's only two, but am so glad we did or I wouldn't have got to meet Tom!
"I love him and he's been a celebrity crush of mine for a long time."
READ NEXT:
