A PAPERBOY who had his bike stolen can complete his rounds in comfort again thanks to a football club.

Gary Baldwin, 14, was forced to walk half a mile every day from the C and B News Shop, in North Ormesby, following the theft.

When staff at the BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium heard of Gary's plight, they nominated him to receive a replacement bike from club mascot Roary's children's charity.

They made a surprise presentation of the gift when the Longlands youngster also received a Boro cycle helmet and a lock. Cleveland police have security-coded the bike to prevent another theft.

Middlesbrough Football Club's public relations officer, Diane O'Connell, said: "Gary is very popular with everyone at Boro and when we heard about the theft, we knew we had to act.

"We get a large newspaper delivery at the stadium, and our hearts went out to him when we saw him having to carry his load on foot."