A GENEROUS schoolboy was so upset when he heard about the theft of another youngster's bike he decided to give away his own.

As reported in the BEN, five-year-old Joshua Griffiths' blue BMX was stolen from his home at Ainsworth Lane, Tonge Fold - on Friday the 13th.

But now kind-hearted Marcus Longworth, aged 8, has given Joshua his own Raleigh mountain bike and says he will manage without a bike until Father Christmas brings him a new one.

Marcus's social worker mum Jackie was burgled over the weekend but the Longworths were still keen to help Joshua out.

Jackie, of Tetbury Drive, Breightmet, said: "The house was burgled late on Saturday night when I was in bed. The music centre and all the CDs were taken along with my handbag.

"Marcus' 13-year-old brother Danny had his Head schoolbag stolen. Kitchen drawers were emptied all over the floor.

"It is lucky that the bike was in the garden shed otherwise that would have been stolen too."

Marcus has chosen a new bike and Jackie said: "It won't do him any harm to be without a bike for a while. It will help me to keep an eye on him.

"Marcus has learning disabilities but he has a big heart and he is giving away a good bike. He can see that some people are not as lucky as he is.

"Marcus has gone through two years of trauma himself. I moved house after getting divorced and was not in full-time work.

"Things were hard financially and Marcus knows what it is like to go without. But the situation is better now after a lot of hard work.

A special assembly was held last week at Marcus's school Beaumont County Primary.

Jackie added: "The pupils all said 'thank-you' to Marcus for giving his bike away. It will do a lot for his confidence and self-esteem."

Joshua met Marcus on Tuesday and was delighted with his new bike. Joshua presented Marcus with a football to show his gratitude.

Joshua's mum Beverley said: "It is a really nice gesture. Joshua enjoyed seeing his picture in the paper and he is pleased as punch with the new bike."

Beverley has had a brick thrown through her window and a garden ornament stolen in the last week.

She added: "I know there is a lot of crime going round and these things are not just happening to me.

"I keep wondering what will happen next. But hopefully things will get back to normal now."

Kind-hearted BEN reader Jean Hamilton of Edinburgh Road in Little Lever also offered Joshua a BMX bike.

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