A BANK worker has received an unexpected Christmas bonus this year after being offered £100 for a gold brace she had recently had removed.

Faye Beavan, 31, of Woodford Green, had originally planned to throw the 14 carat device in the bin when she finally had it taken off after two years of discomfort.

But the former Woodbridge High School girl - who works for an investment bank - has since been offered up to £100 by scrap metal dealers eager to take advantage from the current high gold price.

The demand for scrap gold has intensified after the metal's value rose to £757 an ounce earlier this month.

Ms Bevan - who had to have gold braces fitted because of an allegy to nickel - said: "Compared to the cost of getting them fitted £100 is not alot of money, but it is a nice little bonus.

"I'll probably spend it on helping to pay off my credit card or on Christmas presents.

"To be honest I didn't think the brace was worth anything, so it came as a bit of a surprise when I found out I could sell it."

Ms Beavan, who grew up in Woodford Green, said she was pleased to see the back of them.

She said: "It's nice enough just getting them taken off after two years.

"It's nice not to have a sore tongue anymore and being able to eat whatever I want."

"I've had a couple of offers for them already. Someone in my office has recently sold some jewellery for around £1,000 so there's definitely a market for gold at the moment.

"If people have old jewellery they don't want then why not sell it?"