A schoolboy who had his prized go-kart taken from outside his home by a man in a van is delighted after he was donated a new one.
Riley Manning, five, had launched a poster campaign to find his beloved bright-red toy car after a van driver was caught on CCTV taking it from outside his home in Leytonstone last Wednesday.
Motor insurance company Direct Line saw the boy’s appeal in the Standard and gave him a new one.
His mother Kayleigh said: “He is absolutely ecstatic. He’s been a little bit poorly recently but it has cheered him up no end. He’s been driving it around the front room, he feels like a movie star.
“The response has been overwhelming from people. I’m still in shock... the kindness of the community is fantastic.
“Everyone has been keeping an eye out for the van and sending me sightings. If somehow we get the first one back I would donate it to a children’s hospital.”
Felicity Harer of Direct Line said: “We are delighted we could help a little engineer and hope he enjoys his new wheels.”
A Met police spokesman said inquiries were continuing into the alleged theft.
