A MENTALLY handicapped Bolton man has sent a special reward to the schoolboy who fended off two savage dogs. Steven Heveran, 37, has severe learning problems so his adoptive mum, Elsie, reads BEN articles to her son every night. And Elsie says her son began to cry when she told him of brave schoolboy Mark Aspey, who ran to his playmates' rescue when they were mauled by the dogs.

Now Steven has insisted that he send Mark £3 from his weekly savings and Elsie has asked the BEN to pass it on.

The attack by the two Staffordshire bull terriers, which were crossed with another breed, came two weeks ago and left four children with serious bite injuries.

Two of the worst injured - brother and sister Craig and Kelly Rearden - spent two nights in hospital and two other youngsters suffered multiple bite wounds to their legs and arms.

The BEN revealed that it was 12-year-old Hayward High School pupil Mark who came to the rescue, fending off the dogs with a piece of wood.

Now Steven has insisted on sending the fearless boy some money in recognition of his actions.

Elsie, of Red Lane, Breightmet, said: "When I read out what that little lad had done Steven was very upset.

"It really touched him and he said he couldn't believe how brave he had been. He insisted on sending some of his weekly spend to the boy so I sent the money to the paper for you to pass it on.

"It's only a small present which he can either spend or save but it's Steven's way of saying well done."

The dogs' owner, Caroline McLean, of Woodvale Avenue, Morris Green, said the two dogs had been destroyed.

The news was welcomed by Lorraine Rearden, mum of Craig and Kelly, who have had 50 stiches in their wounds between them.

She said: "At least it means they won't be able to do the same thing again but my two children have still had to go through a terrible experience. I'm glad the dogs are dead."

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