Kerridge Cup sponsors, Darlington Building Society, were determined that car thieves would not win when Middlesbrough Cricket Club first team players, cousins Leigh and James Beaumont had trophies and equipment stolen.

The theft of Leigh's Audi coupe in Acklam meant that Leigh had lost both his car and its contents.

The contents included his and cousin James' newly-acquired Kerridge Cup winners' plaque and his man of the match trophy with his cousin James' treasured collection of cricket caps.

Although the car has been recovered and James has been reunited with some of his clothing, the Keridge Cup trophies were beyond repair.

Darlington Building Society has taken steps to soften the blow by replacing the cup winners' plaques and man of the match trophy. David Copland (left), marketing and communications manager at Darlington Building Society said: "When I read of this theft and realised that the Kerridge Cup trophies, which I presented to Leigh and James, less than 24 hours earlier, had gone, I was determined to do something about it. I contacted Mike Gough Sports, Hartlepool, who provide the Kerridge Cup trophies, and ordered replacements."

Following the presentation, of his second set of Kerridge Cup awards in one week Leigh said: "This has been a traumatic seven days for James and myself but we both now feel a lot better now that we have replacement trophies and some of our cricket gear back."