WARearted police were so upset when a schoolboy's bike was stolen at knifepoint that they chipped in to buy him a new one.

Timothy Baxter, 13, needed the bike for exercise after he had an operation on his hips five years ago.

He has a rare condition called Perthes disease, which means the blood does not circulate around his hips properly and he is in constant pain.

Since the operation, pain has been reduced but doctors said the Moorhead High School, Accrington, pupil still needed the exercise.

The bike, an early birthday present, was stolen in August while he was in a park, off Railway Street, Great Harwood, with friends.

Two boys aged 13 to 14, produced a knife and demanded it.

Police from Great Harwood, the public protection unit at Accrington and Accrington CID felt so sorry for the youngster, of Clayton Street, Great Harwood, that had a collection to replace it.

Bosses at the town's Halfords store were so touched by Timothy's plight they sold the bike at cost price.

Yesterday officers presented him with a blue Apollo XL mountain bike -- the same model as the one he had before.

Tim said: "I'm gobsmacked. I didn't expect this at all. I want to thank the all the police that put together to buy me this.

"It means now I can do what my doctor said and start exercising to lose weight and keep the hips moving."

Tim's mum Carol, 46, said: "Tim had the operation when he was eight to relieve the pain. His rare condition means he is in a lot of pain and although the operation has helped he needs the bike to exercise.

"The police rang me on Saturday and told me about it and we decided not to tell him so it would be a surprise."

Sergeant Paul Langley, of Great Harwood police, said: "Unfortunately we never found the culprits or the bike. He's a young lad who has been subjected to a terrifying ordeal. Everyone has been very helpful, generous and supportive."

PC Mark Skellorn said: " This lad deserves a bike, he needs it so we thought let's raise it ourselves."