16301/1GEORGE Diddams, eight, was devastated on Monday when the man he thought was going to give him back his football jumped in a car and drove off with it.

The incident took place outside George's house on Devizes Road, Rowde, as he played with his brother Joe, ten, and sister Charlotte, five in the garden.

The children's father, Ian Diddams, said: "My partner, Tracey, the children's mother, had gone out for a few minutes and the ball had gone over the hedge into the road. Because it is so dangerous, the children have strict orders not to go out there so George was waiting for her to come back. When the car pulled up, he thought they were going to give the ball back. Instead, they drove off with it. George was reduced to uncontrollable tears. It is one of the most mean-minded things I have ever heard of."

However, Gazette editor Gary Lawrence was so touched by George's plight he handed over a football from his office in Devizes.

Ms Lawrence said: "You have restored George's faith in people, but if the person who took his ball would chuck it back over the hedge with a note saying sorry, that would be nice too."