A FAMILY'S Christmas was saved after the local community rallied together to replace presents stolen from their house two days before the big day.

The intruders escaped with 30 presents worth around £1,500, leaving a trail of wrapping paper in their wake.

Burglars had broken into a house in Prestfield Road, Whitefield, between 1am and 8am on Tuesday December 23, and took the haul of festive gifts from the garage.

It meant that Christopher Clayton, aged 32, and his wife Terri-Anne, aged 27, were left with no presents, not just for Christopher's 10-year-old son Matthew, but their five nieces and nephew. Dominic, aged eight, Alex, aged 11, Matthew, aged 12, Leah, aged six and Faith, aged nine, were all due to visit from their home in Hampshire over the festive period.

The heartbroken children even made a banner that read: 'We believe in Santa'.

Afterwards, Mr Clayton said: "Whoever decided to steal all the kids' Christmas presents two days before Christmas are absolute scumbags. How can you steal from kids?"

But despair began to turn to delight when friends and family rallied round to replace the missing gifts.

Whitefield Police also got involved, by asking local businesses to pitch in.

Leading the way were bosses from Morrisons in Whitefield, Tesco in Prestwich and Asda in Pilsworth, who donated goods such as toy cars, dolls and food.

Karen Riley, manager at Tesco in Prestwich, said: "We had a request from our local police force and thought it would only be right to help this family in their hour of need.

"We gave them a full three-course finest Christmas dinner and a trolley full of toys.

"This will not in any way replace the gifts lost, but at least they were able to wake up with something on Christmas morning."

A Whitefield Police spokesman said: "We want to say a massive 'thank you' to these three supermarkets for donating so much to the family."

Mr Clayton, who works as a chef at Angelo's Italian restaurant in Higher Lane, Whitefield, echoed the thanks.

He added: "It's safe to say that, thanks to my amazing family and some really nice people out there, my son and his cousins have been able to have a good Christmas."