A CHILD whose Christmas was ruined by a thief is smiling again - thanks to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Carl Slater, seven, of Manitoba Close, Lammack, Blackburn, was devastated when one of the ice hockey gloves he had been given was stolen.

It was taken from the players' bench at Blackburn Arena while he was on the ice, acting as mascot for the Lancashire Hawks.

His mum Anita appealed for information about the theft in the Telegraph - and within hours Carl had his glove back from the thief as well as a gift of money to help him complete his kit.

Anita said: "Within a couple of hours of the paper coming out, a man phoned to say he thought he had Carl's glove.

"His son had brought it home and spun his dad a yarn about where he had got it but the father recognised it in the Telegraph and the son admitted he had stolen it."

Then came Carl's second big surprise. Andrew Cornthwaite, of Cavendish Place, Witton, Blackburn, had read about the theft and phoned to offer to buy Carl new gloves.

Anita explained the glove had been returned but Mr Cornthwaite insisted on giving Carl £50 towards a hockey stick and socks.

Anita said: "I felt sorry for the father of the boy who had taken the glove. He felt really awful and brought his son round with the glove and a gift and the boy apologised.

"And I was really touched by Mr Cornthwaite's offer. Carl had put a stick and socks on his Christmas list but we couldn't get him everything."

She added that she was delighted to see Carl, who plays for the Merlins under-10s ice hockey team in Blackburn, happy again.

"He was distraught when the glove was stolen but this is Christmas all over again for him."

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