THE BEN's wonderful readers have brought the smiles back to a little Bolton boy whose bike was smashed to pieces by vandals.

Last night we showed the sad three-year-old with his mangled bike. But within minutes of the paper hitting the streets, human kindness was overflowing.

The BEN newsdesk was inundated with calls from people offering partially deaf Lewis Hargreaves a new bike. His mum Adele, who broke down and cried when she saw her son's wrecked bike, was in tears again as a Hindley shopkeeper gave him a new bike, complete with "police patrol" kit.

The blue bike was Lewis's pride and joy and the little boy, who has also undergone several operations for a cleft palate, was heartbroken when it was stolen from outside his home in Sundridge Close, Deane, and smashed.

The story touched the hearts of BEN readers. And Clint Jolley, who runs Clint's Catalogue Shop in Market Street, Hindley, was first to ring offering a new bike.

Many others followed, including:

A call from seven-year-old James Catterall, of Bateman Street, Horwich offering his own bike.

Robert Young, of Raveden Close, Smithills rang offering to buy Lewis the bike of his choice.

Ian Lomax, of Tonge Moor, whose young son Anthony, 6, was killed when a wall collapsed on him in January, offered to give Lewis a helmet, gloves and other equipment for his new bike.

Today, a man who called himself "Bolton Bill" dropped off another bike at the BEN counter and left before anyone could speak to him.

And a mystery man in a Mercedes called at the family's home and dropped off a brand new BMX bike.

David Collier, of Colchester Drive, Farnworth, also offered to replace Lewis's bike with a new one. Adele said: "When things like this happen it restores your faith in human nature. I can't thank the people enough who have rung the BEN and offered to help.

A BEN reporter and photographer picked up Lewis and his mum and took them to Hindley to collect the new bike.

Between smiles, Lewis thanked Mr Jolley and said: "I like my new bike and I'm very happy."

"It's like a dream," said Adele. "I would just like to thank everyone who has tried to help."

Mr Jolley said: "I read the story and just wanted to help. I'm sure lots of people felt the same. It was a sick thing to do to a little boy."

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