FUND raisers have had their faith in human nature restored after an anonymous donor replaced a stolen raffle prize.

Thieves horrified staff at the Teesside Hospice shop in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, when they stole a new 15-gear mountain bike being offered as top prize in a draw.

The hospice, in Middlesbrough, needs to raise £2,500 every day to keep its doors and range of support services running.

Three hospice workers are planning to cycle 300 miles across Cuba to raise £10,000 for the hospice and were hoping the raffle for the bike would bring in £2,000. About 250 tickets had been sold for the raffle when it was stolen.

Joanne Denwood, one of the trio going to Cuba, said the donor, a woman from Bishopsgarth, Stockton, had already won a similar bike in another raffle and it was still in its protective wrappings.

"She was really upset when she read the article about our bike being stolen and decided to donate it to Teesside Hospice. We are really delighted.

"It is the same kind of bike so we don't have to reprint the tickets or reimburse people who have already paid out money for raffle tickets."

Also taking part in the sponsored ride will be charity shops' manager Sheila Bearcroft and Marske shop manager Julie Adams.