KIND-HEARTED readers of The Northern Echo wasted no time in offering their services to a single mother whose car was stolen.

As reported in yesterday's paper, Deborah Hadley, whose four-year-old son, Kieran, has cystic fibrosis, had her Vauxhall Cavalier stolen from outside her home in Skelton, east Cleveland, at the weekend.

The theft meant the 33-year-old could no longer take her three sons on holiday to Thorpe Park, Cleethorpes, north Lincolnshire.

Yesterday, Echo reader Dale Parker, 38, of Marton, Middlesbrough, rang our office offering to take the family on their trip.

"I have two boys of my own and I wouldn't want her and her sons to miss out because of some scumbags," he said. "I think they deserve a break."

Another reader - from Malton in North Yorkshire - also offered to lend his car to the family.

Mrs Hadley said she was grateful for the offers of help but had cancelled the holiday, which was planned for the end of this month.

"I may book another one at the end of the season and see about saving up for another car," she said.