GRATEFUL parents of a severely handicapped little boy who returned from a weekend break to find burglars had plundered their home have thanked readers for coming to their aid.

Michael Williams, 20, and his fiance Jane Keating, 22, of Broadgate, Darwen were left without benefit money for Dean, four, who has learning difficulties, a heart defect, asthma, digestive problems and other special needs.

The family had gone to Butlins in Skegness but spent most of their time in hospital after Dean fell ill.

When the Lancashire Evening Telegraph highlighted their plight two readers came forward .

A woman and her young son sent £15 with a note which said: "I hope this will in some small way help you and your son move past this bad time and to realise that there are people around who care for one another."

Michael said: "We are really touched. It's nice to know people care and the money has really helped. Dean had his first day at school this week and really loved it."

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