A YOUNG boy’s Christmas has been saved from being ruined after his nan replaced his new bike which was stolen on his birthday.

Korban Hollywell was left devastated on his eighth birthday after his orange Apollo Stomp bike bought by dad Nick and stepmum Alice was stolen before the gift had even been presented to him.

Three days before Korban’s birthday, on Saturday, November 30, Nick took his son to choose a bike before storing it in the garage behind Alice’s home in Church Street, King’s Stanley.

On Tuesday, December 3, Korban’s birthday, Alice went to the garage at 2.45pm to fetch it only to find that thieves had got their first.

“Korban was absolutely gutted,” said Alice, who has a two-year-old son Jimmy with Nick.

“I think what made it worse was that he already knew what he was getting and was really excited about going out for his first ride when he got home.

“Nick and I hadn’t bought him anything else for his birthday so he ended up having nothing to open from us.”

According to Alice, the bike was well hidden behind the car and covered with bin liners.

Nick and Alice were originally appealing for the bike, which was worth £150, to be returned so Korban would have his present back.

However since then his nan, Lin Hollywell, has stepped in to save the day and replaced the bike with the same model.

“Although Korban is obviously thrilled it is such a shame that a little boy had his birthday ruined in the first place,” said Alice.

The pair also put a message on the Facebook page Spotted in Stroud/Stonehouse appealing for the bike to be returned and were inundated with messages offering money towards a new one.

“There are some really nice people out there but unfortunately there is also a minority who want to pinch stuff,” she added.

Anyone with information about the bike theft should call police on 101 quoting incident 134 of December 3.