THE Theatre of Dreams lived up to its name yesterday for three young brothers.

For all their dreams came true when they went to Old Trafford for the first time and found three brand new Manchester United BMX bikes waiting for them.

The bikes were a gift from the football club after their own bikes were stolen from their home last month.

As reported exclusively in the BEN, heartbroken Amanda Moores bought identical bikes for her young children as a special Christmas treat because they were still missing their brother Ryan, who died of meningitis when he was just 17 months old.

But callous thieves stole the bikes from their home in Peel Park Crescent, Little Hulton, before the children had even turned the pedals. After being contacted by the BEN, Manchester United were touched by the family's story and promised to send the boys some gifts to cheer them up.

But the generous club decided to go one better - and present Lee, 11; Aaron, nine; and Shaun, aged seven, who are mad Manchester United fans with the bikes at the "Theatre of Dreams" itself.

The boys, who had never been to Old Trafford before, knew nothing about the bikes and thought they were having a day off school to play football. They were taken to the museum and shown round by club mascot Fred the Red.

And when they came out, there was mum, dad and Manchester United old-boy Pat Crerand waiting with the new bikes.

Proud mum Amanda said: "This is fantastic. They were so upset when the bikes were stolen, but to see the smiles on their faces now is just brilliant. We are so grateful to everyone at MUFC."

Dad Peter is currently unemployed and on long-term sickness and Amanda is a housewife. They had bought the bikes through a catalogue so they could pay for them in instalments and couldn't afford to replace them.

Peter added: "I am so pleased the boys have bikes again. If those thieves that took them are reading this, I hope they feel really bad."

Pat Crerand, who presented the bikes on behalf of MUFC, said: "These lads have had a hard time and they deserve something nice and it is truly great of Manchester United to do this for them."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.