A TEENAGE boy who has suffered at the hands of thieves twice in the past six months has been cheered by a surprise package from Harry Potter author JK Rowling

Mark Huggins, 13, a pupil at Commonweal School, had his wheelchair stolen and vandalised only a few months after thieves ransacked his parent's car and stole his treasured Harry Potter tapes and cassette player.

Mark, who suffers from the hip disorder Bilateral Perethes Disease, epilepsy, asthma and Raynaud's Syndrome, received a surprise package on Friday before school.

Inside the box was the complete series of Harry Potter adventures on tape, sent to him after JK Rowling heard of Mark's plight.

And yesterday morning Mark received a personal letter from the author telling him about the progress she is making with the latest adventure of the boy wizard.

In it she said: "It's really strange writing the book now that I'm pregnant, but I can't wait until it's published.''

Mark's mother Sally, 37, said: "He has got his smile back now and he's so delighted. This kind gesture has gone a long way to making him feel better and it was totally unexpected.

"Listening to Harry Potter is one of his favourite pastimes I've had no trouble getting Mark to bed because he's totally absorbed in Harry's adventures."

The Evening Advertiser revealed last week how thieves stole Mark's wheelchair from outside the family's front door and then returned it the next day ruined. Witnesses to the theft should call police on Swindon 528111.