A YOUNG fan is distraught after a thief sneaked off with one of his prized ice hockey gloves.

Seven-year-old Carl Slater had been given the £35 Bauer gloves for Christmas. But just two days later, as he skated on to the ice at Blackburn Ice Arena to be mascot for the Lancashire Hawks, someone took one from the players' bench.

Carl's mum Anita said: "He was thrilled to get these gloves for Christmas. He loves ice hockey and plays for the Merlins under-10s in Blackburn.

"He had a match on Sunday in Grimsby and thought he wouldn't be able to play because he did not have his new gloves. Luckily we found an old pair but they were full of holes."

The theft of the black and white glove has been reported to the police. Mrs Slater, of Manitoba Close, Lammack, Blackburn, said: "The Hawks have offered to chip in and buy him another pair but that is not the point.

"Carl was so upset and one glove on its own is no use to anyone." A woman watching the game is believed to have witnessed the theft and Mrs Slater is hoping she will come forward with some information about the culprit.

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