Thieves steal cancer tot's toys

Two-and-a-half-year-old James Smith's toys were taken from a parked car in Park Drive Close, Denton.

Elizabeth Sneddon, a friend of James's mother Jaqui, and her partner Jamie had agreed to look after the toys after they had driven the toddler and his parents from Southampton Hospital to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children in Brighton.

James had been undergoing chemotherapy in a specialist ward at Southampton since being diagnosed with leukaemia on Christmas Eve. As he was showing signs of improvement doctors said he could be moved nearer to home.

Elizabeth said: 'We went down to Southampton to pick them up and take them to the Royal Alexandra. Jaqui asked me to look after his toys and I was going to take them to him next day.'

Among the toys were prizes James had been given by nurses for his good behaviour and Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine gifts bought by his parents.

Elizabeth said: 'His mum and dad have been buying him toys as treats because he can't walk or get out of bed because the chemotherapy has made him quite weak.'

But she was horrified when she discovered the white bin liner full of toys was missing from her car, which was parked near her home in Park Drive Close.

She said: 'When we woke up we looked out of the bedroom window and saw the car window had been smashed and all the toys were gone.

'I felt awful for leaving them there but I didn't think any one would steal children's toys.'

Overnight on Monday five cars were broken into around Denton. As well as the toys, four car CD players were stolen.

PC Graeme Ross, from Newhaven Police Station, said: 'I would ask anybody who has any information about these thefts, particularly the bag of toys, to contact the police as soon as possible.'

Readers can call him on 0845 6070999.