THEFT victim Hannah Thomas saw her dream come true when she met soccer star Matt Jansen -- thanks to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Hannah, 11, was devastated when thieves stole footballs she had caught after they were thrown into the crowd by Jansen as Graeme Souness switched on Blackburn's Christmas lights.

The Telegraph and Rovers teamed up after hearing about the thefts and brought a smile to the schoolgirl's face with a signed football and surprise tickets to Rovers' clash at Ewood with Gillingham on Saturday.

She set off from her home at Lytham Road, Blackburn thinking she was doing some Christmas shopping with her mum, Sheila, but as they pulled up at Ewood Park suspicions were aroused.

Hannah said: "When I was taken into the tunnel area I did not know what was happening and when I saw Matt Jansen stood there I did not know what to do.

"He is my idol -- it was the best day of the best day of my life" Jansen and David Dunn had each kicked two footballs into the crowd of about 3,500.

Matt Jansen's first hit Hannah but a gang of youths came and took it off her but seconds later she caught another one.

Within seconds it had also been snatched.

After the Telegraph's story officials at Rovers decided to act.

As well as a new ball, Hannah and her mum got tickets to the game and said they were treated like queens.

Sheila said: "I think it was one of the best days of my life, never mind Hannah's.

"I would like to thank both Blackburn Rovers and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for organising this special day."

A spokesman for Blackburn Rovers said they were delighted to help.

He said: "When we saw Hannah's story we felt we should do something.

"To catch both balls Matt kicked into the crowd was at very long odds and when we read about them getting stolen we decided she deserved to get another one in a place where there is no chance of it getting stolen."