MARTLESHAM: A 10-year-old boy has been left heartbroken today after thieves stole a quad bike that means the world to him.

Thomas Phillips, of Coopers Road, Martlesham, managed to scrimp and save around �2,000 by doing odd jobs and putting his pocket money towards his dream of owning the bike. His parents Sandra and Paul paid the remaining �1,000.

However, thieves have now stolen the green Kawasaki 300KLM from the stables near Kesgrave where the family keep a horse and Thomas rides his bike at the weekends.

Mrs Phillips said: “Thomas is devastated. He saved up his pocket money and Christmas money. The only thing he really, really loves is his quad bike. He really does live for it.

“Thomas lives for his weekends and he’s very, very good on the bike.”

Mrs Phillips added that her son has had to earn the bike and still does odd jobs around the stables, and the farm where the horse is kept, to pay for the machine’s upkeep.

She said: “Thomas has to do the ‘muck run’ for us when we muck out. He does it come snow, rain or shine, so he can play at the weekend.

“He has to earn every penny for his petrol and doesn’t just get given the money.

“I feel bitter because I know how hard he has worked for the bike.”

In addition to the Kawasaki, a yellow boy’s motorbike - also belonging to Thomas - was also stolen from the farm between 1am and 5am on Tuesday<9.3>.

Ann Last, who runs the stables, said: “They are his whole life. If you only knew how much this quad bike means to Thomas. He helps his dad around the farm and helps with the stables.

“It is what he gets up for in the mornings. He’s a smashing lad. He spends all his life waiting for the weekend so he can have some fun.”

In addition to the two bikes, a generator was also taken during the break-in.

Anne-Marie Breach, a spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary, said: “We would appeal for anyone who has information about the theft, or who knows where the quad bike is, to telephone Kesgrave’s Safer Neighbourhood Team on Ipswich 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Have you been the victim of a theft? E-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or write to Star Letters, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.