A four-year-old boy who was left traumatised by a crime wave against his family is now on the road to recovery - thanks to a kind-hearted Telegraph & Argus reader.

Bradford toddler James Hewitt has been suffering from constant nightmares ever since a series of burglaries at his mum Suzanne's house.

He also had to be rescued by firefighters after vandals started a blaze at their former flat.

To cap it all, James's pet rabbit Fluffy was stolen in the latest burglary.

But after reading of James's run of bad luck, mother-of-two Alana Twinham came to the rescue, by presenting him with her family's bunny, Mopsey.

Mrs Twinham, of Eccleshill, who has two daughters, Sasha and Aleysha, said: "When I read the story it made me cry. My one-year-old, Aleysha, has eczema and having Mopsey about used to agitate it.

"James has had a bad time and hopefully this will help him."

James's mum said: "It's a lovely gesture. James is over the moon.

"When he saw the story in the T&A it cheered him up. He was really proud. This will also help him too."

The family suffered its first burglary two years ago when they lived in Benedene Road, Allerton. Six months later thieves struck again - this time taking all James's Walt Disney videos and many of his toys. Last July, James and his mother were rescued from a fire at the flat, started by vandals lighting rubbish. They were trapped on the veranda and firefighters came to the rescue, putting out the blaze and leading them to safety.

Soon afterwards, Miss Hewitt and her son moved to a house in Allerton - but on Bonfire Night last year they were victims again. Burglars made off with electrical equipment and cash.

And two weeks ago thieves got into their garden shed and took Fluffy, along with a Christmas tree and decorations.

Miss Hewitt said: "After all that's happened it shows that there are good people who care. This is wonderful."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.