A LITTLE girl has been thanked for finding and returning a stolen trike which was being customised as a gift for a boy with disabilities.

Terri-Ann Gibney was disgusted when someone stole the trike which she had been painting for her six-year-old brother Liam Burley, who has Down's syndrome.

Mrs Gibney, of Barrow, was painting the trike in the distinctive theme of Mr Tumble from CBeebies' Something Special.

Liam is a big fan of the children's TV character so the trike was painted bright yellow and she had spots drawn on it ready to be painted like Mr Tumble's magic bag.

Liam, a pupil at Newbarns Primary School, can't pedal a regular bike as he also has hypotonia, which affects his muscles, but he can manage a trike.

Mrs Gibney spent some time trying to find a bigger than usual trike suitable for a six-year-old. When she found a second hand one she started customising it as a surprise for Liam.

The trike was at the back door of Oasis Designer Florists, in Cavendish Street, Barrow, owned by Liam and Mrs Gibney's mum Elaine Burley, allowing the wet paint to dry, when it was stolen last month.

People had been on the look out for the trike. Some people reported possible sightings but unfortunately it was not Liam's trike.

But fellow Newbarns pupil, Molly Harris, spotted Liam's trike while she was travelling in the car with her dad Alan Harris.

The nine-year-old pointed out a trike at the edge of the backstreet of Manchester Street and Emlyn Street.

They then took the trike, which had a puncture, to Mrs Burley.

Molly received a bouquet of flowers, a card and a gift from the family.

She was also congratulated at school in assembly and she received a certificate.

Mrs Gibney said: "I didn't think we would see the trike again. We are very grateful to Molly and her dad. Molly is a little star.

"Liam is going to be very happy when he gets this trike."

Mrs Gibney also thanked everyone who went and looked for the trike and offered help.

Mr Harris said: "Molly saw the trike and thought it was Liam's. We wanted to help and get it back to them. It was terrible that it was taken."

Mr Harris said Molly's flowers were beautiful and he thanked them for the flowers and gift.

Mrs Gibney was offered another larger style trike from a mum in Millom whose son had grown out off it. Mrs Gibney accepted this trike, which she will also do up for Liam for when he is bigger.

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