PHUKET: A man who found a substantial sum of cash on the pavement of Phuket and took it to police has been commended for his honesty.

Lungwan Suppalert, 61, says he wouldn't have been able to sleep at nights for feeling guilty that it was someone else's money and they might need it.

So, after picking up around 10,000 baht near a restaurant close to the Koh Sireh traffic circle on Sunday, the local farmer - originally from north east Thailand - went to a nearby police box and explained what had happened.

The police and Phuket's Damrungtam ombudsman's office are now making an appeal for anyone who has lost the cash to come forward.

Khun Lungwan has been presented with a certificate commending his exceptional honesty.

''In my mind, I had to go to police because someone might need the money more than me,'' he said.

The precise amount is not being declared so claimants can describe the total and their movements before losing the money.

Claimants can go to the Damrungtam office at Phuket Provincial Hall.