TWINS Heidi and Jacob Wood are back on the road – thanks to a Westcliff electronics shop which has replaced a pair of ride-on cars stolen from their home.

Heidi and Jacob, four, have been given new £170 red electric ride-on Minis by Maplin Electronics’ London Road store.

The firm made the generous gesture after its manager read about the theft, reported last month in the Echo.

Thieves broke into a garage in Seaview Road, Canvey, and took the kids’ cars – a Christmas present from the twins’ late grandfather Gary Piper, who died of leukaemia, aged 56, in February.

Their mum, Laura Wood, from Benfleet, said: “We’re overwhelmed by the generosity shown by Maplin.

“Despite this awful crime, this has made an awful few weeks a little easier. Heidi and Jacob are absolutely thrilled with their new cars and have been playing in them non-stop.”

Store manager Edward Cowell, said he decided to help after reading about the twins’ loss.

He explained: “I wanted to help. Originally I thought we could share the story on social media, in case anybody knew anything about where the cars were.

“I messaged the mum of the twins on Facebook and told her what I wanted to do she was shocked and very grateful.

“I then spoke to my regional manager about giving a donation to the family, and it grew from there really.

“We wanted to help because it was very sad the children cars were stolen.

“The cars we’ve donated to Heidi and Jacob won't replace the last gift lovingly chosen by their grandfather, but we hope these gifts will put a smile back on their faces.

Their mum said: “It was all down to Ed at Maplin. He’s an amazing man. I still get quite emotional talking about it.

“Ed has really restored my faith in humanity. There are good people around.

“He even came to work during his annual leave to present the cars to the twins. His family came as well. It was a pleasure to meet such special people.”

Anyone with information about the theft of the twins’ original cars from their grandparents’ garage between 10.30pm on Tuesday, July 7 and 6.20am on Wednesday, July 8, is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.