A nine-year-old boy, whose toys were smashed by heartless burglars, has had the smile put back on his face by kind-hearted businesswomen.

The raiders stole Joshua Fleming’s electronic games equipment and TV in a break-in at his grandmother’s home in Clough Street, West Bowling, Bradford.

And the callous burglars smashed up Joshua’s remote control dinosaur and 3D jigsaw, leaving the youngster heartbroken.

But business partners Zoe Nicholls and Jeanette Romani, who run a car repair business, Ladies Only Auto Care in Wibsey, Bradford, handed over £50 to the youngster for new toys, after reading in the Telegraph & Argus about the burglary.

Zoe said: “It was heartbreaking to read about what had happened, especially the smashing up of his toys. Jeanette and I felt it would be nice if we could do something to help him. It was wonderful to give him the money. He was so happy to be given it.”

The burglars, who struck in the daytime on Saturday, September 28, took several TVs, Joshua’s Xbox 360 games console, 30 electronic games and a Lexibook tablet, as well as jewellery and a laptop computer belonging to his grandmother, Susan Fleming.

Mrs Fleming, 61, said it was a kind gesture by the business ladies. “I really appreciate what they have done, and I know Joshua does too. It gives me a little faith back that there are good people out there,” she said.

But Mrs Fleming said she was unhappy about how long it was taking to repair her back door, which was damaged in the break-in.

“It has been boarded up, but I do not feel safe. The lock and the broken glass has still not been repaired,” she said.

A spokesman for Accent Group, which owns the property, said: “Our contractors have measured up for new glazing, but it can take up to 14 days for it to be ready and fitted. They will be fitting the new glazing today as planned and will also replace the door handles and cylinder barrel at the same time.”

Anyone with information about the burglary should contact police on 101.