KINDHEARTED townsfolk have put the smile back on a little boy's face, after thieves stole his favourite teddy bear.

Five-year-old Samuel Payne was heartbroken when his beloved cuddly toy, Ramsbottom, was snatched after his mum's car was stolen.

As reported in the BEN, the car was taken from the Aldi car park, Farnworth, only to be dumped later in Cleggs Lane, Little Hulton.

But the thieves grabbed a shopping bag containing Ramsbottom from the boot of the vehicle.

Mum Christine searched the Cleggs Lane area to try to find Ramsbottom, but with no success.

The honey-coloured bear, named after Samuel's favourite town and given to him for his first Christmas, has still not been found.

Worse

But now the people of Ramsbottom have rallied round to give the Farnworth youngster a Christmas bear bonanza.

Joanne Ormerod from the town's chamber of trade contacted the BEN after a member of staff read of Samuel's touching plight.

She said: "It's a terrible thing to happen to a child at any time but it's even worse when it's Christmas. They have stolen something of great value to a five-year-old little lad and we just want to make it a little better for him."

A presentation is being arranged when Samuel will be presented with a Ramsbottom replacement.

And Christine says the family have been inundated with offers of bears for their boy, in the past few days.

She said: "Our phone has hardly stopped ringing since the article appeared. We would like to thank everyone for all their help.

"People have even been ringing to say they were sorry to hear what had happened and even if they didn't have a bear to give, they just wanted to say they thought it was terrible.

"Samuel has taken it a lot better than I thought he would but he's still missing Ramsbottom."

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