CHEEKY thieves snatched a beloved garden gnome which "brought light into the life" of a seriously ill Redditch youngster.

Grandmother Pat Hughes is appealing for the safe return of "Mr Gnome" after he was stolen from the back garden of her home in Mordiford Close, Winyates, on Friday evening.

And although Mrs Hughes is devastated by the theft, it has hit her four-year-old grandson, James, the hardest.

The tot has a serious heart condition and is currently preparing for his third operation at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

"James loves Mr Gnome. He always goes and sees him as soon as he arrives.

"We have had to tell him he has gone on holiday and hope he will be safely returned," said Mrs Hughes, who works at Tesco.

She has scoured the neighbourhood and conducted door-to-door inquires but says no-one knows anything about the whereabouts of the gnome.

Mr Gnome is plastic but is filled with sand. He wears an orange hat and jacket and green trousers.

"He has lived in the garden for 30 years and nothing has happened - I thought he was safe," she said.

Anyone with information can call police on 08457 444 888.