Devastation turned to total joy for Wootton Bassett schoolboy Daniel Wheeler, whose mobility trike was stolen last week.

Callous thieves broke into the garden of the 14-year-old’s home and made off with the trike that gives him the independence to get around on his own last Monday.

Fortunately Daniel’s upset was short-lived when the trike was found days later, streets from his home in Linnet Road, Calne.

His mother Kay Wilson said: “Daniel was absolutely gutted when I told him his trike had gone – because of his disability he cannot ride a normal bike, so that is his mode of transport.

“When we were told it had been found he was overjoyed – before it was found he said to me ‘I don’t think I’m going to see it again.”

Daniel suffers from Neurofibromatosis, a condition which has required him to have several operations to remove tumours from his spine and chest, leaving him with weakness and mobility problems.

“He cannot walk far, so instead of walking to the shop he will ride his trike,” Mrs Wilson said.

The trike was found abandoned less than half a mile away from Daniel’s home in Nuthatch Road on Thursday, and was taken to the police station.

And in a strange twist of fate it was actually a police officer neighbour of Mrs Wilson who spotted the trike at Chippenham Police Station and identified the owners.

Police are continuing to investigate the theft and are appealing for witnesses.

Acting sergeant Emma Reed, of Calne Police, said: “We would still like to hear from anyone who saw it being taken, or it being ridden around this area of Calne between Monday night and Thursday.”

Anyone with information can contact officers on 0845 408 7000.