A real live "widow's mite" donation has been left at a church in the United States with an apologetic note.

The donor said: "Please don't be mad I don't have much. I'm homeless. God bless."

The gift of 18 cents, equivalent to 12 pence in the UK, was left at a church service in Charlotte, North Carolina.

USA Today, which broke the story, said it called to mind the Bible story of the widow's mite.

Mark 12:41 tells the story of when Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.

"Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents."

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."

Rev Patrick Hamrick of First United Methodist Church said: "I think this represents a sacrificial gift. It took some bravery, I think, to write that. And for us, we acknowledge that individual gave out of his poverty proportionally a big deal."

First United, which is next door on one side to a shelter for the homeless and on the other, a famous banking sector in what is the state's biggest city. The church is known locally for its "muffin ministry" when people including many from the homeless shelters are given free muffins on Sunday mornings.

Hamrick said: "You're literally right in between two very different worlds. We are, and we see that. Sunday mornings we welcome a big crowd of people to come have breakfast with us. Some of them are coming from shelters." He said the church will "honour the dignity of the individual who made this gift."

But if the person did make themselves known, "it would be amazing, because I have a feeling, there's been enough groundswell of support that this person could probably get some additional assistance."