A SELFLESS nine-year-old boy has given up his scooter to a poorly youngster who had his stolen.

Earlier this week the Echo reported how thieves took a scooter belonging to Daniel Hilton, seven, from his garden while he was in hospital having emergency surgery.

Since then, big-hearted readers have inundated Daniel’s family with offers after they were touched by the youngster’s sad tale.

The family has now decided to take up an offer from nine-year-old Joe Sand, who made contact via Facebook.

Joe, of Etheldore Avenue, Hawkwell, felt he wanted to do something nice for Daniel, after reading about how the youngster had suffered a catalogue of health problems since birth.

Joe, a pupil at Crowstone Prep School, in Westcliff, said: “It was not right that somebody took his scooter.

“My mum got in touch on Facebook and I saw the story in the Echo.

“I thought I could give him my one because I don’t use it any more, and I just wanted to give it to him.”

Daniel is registered blind and has Joubert syndrome, a condition which affects the brain and causes a loss of balance.

He had to be rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with an abscess on the back of his head on May 2, and after suffering an ear infection he was rushed into surgery.

While he was away, thieves took the scooter.

His grateful mother, Andrina Hilton, of Park Gardens, Hockley, said: “I think Joe is an absolute superstar. It is such a nice thing he has done. I’ve had so many offers, but I took this one because it’s a child doing something so nice for another child.”

The thieves had also stolen a bike belonging to her daughter Remy, ten, but this is also set to get replaced with an old bike from a pal.

Mrs Hilton, 36, said it hadn’t initially registered with Daniel that his scooter had really gone until this Tuesday.

She added: “He went out in the garden and said ‘my scooter’s been stolen’, and then all these offers came through.

“It’s lovely that after just a day he will get one. He’s so happy.”