A mum and child who were left stranded at a Kent beach after their bike trailer was stolen received support from an unexpected source.

Kerry Pearce, from Faversham, had cycled to Seasalter with her three-year-old son Alfred but returned from a brief time on the beach to find the trailer missing.

Mrs Pearce had secured the bike but not the trailer, which Alfred sits in so they were unable to bike home. The theft left her son in tears.

Her appeal on social media to keep an eye out for the distinctive trailer - a blue and yellow shetland design - was seen by the Faversham Darts League and it has since purchased her a new one.

She said: “We were only on the beach for half an hour and the bike was chained to the railings. They uncoupled the trailer but left the attachment. The helmets were in the trailer and it was obvious one of those was for a little kid. I can't believe someone would do that.

“I had to phone around for someone to collect us and my son was in tears, he was really upset. We were left waiting around and it was just lucky I had my phone and somebody was able to come and collect us.

“I asked people on Facebook to keep an eye out for the bike trailer because it was quite distinctive and the offer from the Faversham Darts League was totally out of the blue. I didn’t know them but they had seen my message. It was really nice of them and a big help because money is tight.

“My son is really pleased with the new trailer but he gets worried now thinking everything is going to get stolen.”

The Faversham Darts League has staged numerous charity-based events during the Covid-19 crisis, with events initially run remotely.

Members have helped out with essential equipment and clothing for NHS workers tackling the pandemic. Canterbury Hospital’s swabbing team were even treated to a fish and chip lunch courtesy of the league.

Jordan Dadd is one of those behind it all and he said of the theft: “This really touched me so I had to get involved. We bought them a new one so the family wasn’t out of pocket.”

Read more news from Faversham