KIND-hearted residents clubbed together to replace a toddler’s toy car after it was stolen from the family’s garden.

The red Mini Cooper toy was taken from the garden of a home in Winchester Way, Breightmet, while the family were away at a wildlife park in Yorkshire.

The boy’s 36-year-old mother, who wanted to remain anonymous, posted a message on Bolton Buy and Sell on Facebook to warn others about the theft and not to buy the car if it was advertised or offered to them.

Upset by the theft, Bolton resident Matthew Barnes set up a fundraising page for people to donate money towards a new car for the two-year-old.

Donations amounted to £94 and were transferred to the family, who bought the boy a replacement secondhand car and a reward chart with the funds.

The boy’s mother said: “My son cried his eyes out when we told him it had been taken.

“We told him we would get him another one but that it would be a while and he was mortified. He was saying ‘my car has gone mummy’.

“It was touching that people raised money. My son absolutely loves the car.

“I think a lot of people were disgusted that people took a child’s car. If people want to take anything they can take it from me, not from a child.”

The mother believes children took the car, which was being kept inside her garden and is surrounded by high fences.

Someone found the stolen car, which had cost £239, but it was damaged beyond repair. The replacement is a newer model.