A BEAMING smile is firmly back on the face of an eight-year-old boy after two of his bikes, stolen from his home while he slept, have been recovered. Last week The Comet reported how bike enthusiast TJ Woods, of Briardale in Stevenage, had had his brand n

A BEAMING smile is firmly back on the face of an eight-year-old boy after two of his bikes, stolen from his home while he slept, have been recovered.

Last week The Comet reported how bike enthusiast TJ Woods, of Briardale in Stevenage, had had his brand new BMX - a birthday present - and two off-road motorbikes stolen from the padlocked garage at his home.

He was left devastated, and terrified the thieves would come back.

But a woman reading The Comet article recognised the bike pictured as one she had seen her own son with, so she called the police and turned him in. The two motorbikes have now been recovered, but the BMX is still missing.

TJ's mother, Tracey Best, said: "It was literally because of the article that his bikes were found. When I heard, I just couldn't believe it and was jumping up and down, screaming. TJ is so happy."

TJ, who has loved bikes ever since he can remember, became ill as a result of the theft. He wasn't eating or sleeping properly, but the night his two motorbikes were found he slept through the night. Despite the fact his new BMX has still not been located, he said: "I'm so happy."

Before the Comet article, Miss Best and her family and friends had been leafleting people, asking if anybody had seen the three bikes. A Facebook campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the theft in an attempt to make it difficult for the thief to sell the bikes on, was also mounted. "I just want to say thank you to everybody who has helped," Miss Best said.

A spokesman for Herts Police said: "Two bikes have been recovered and enquiries are ongoing." No arrests had been made at the time of going to press.