THE smile on face of little Fay Porter says it all, after being presented with a new swan to replace the one that was stolen from her seasonal fairy lights in her Tavistock garden just before Christmas.

The plight of the three-year-old touched Times readers and users of a local social networking site, who heard how a thief had taken the two-foot high figurine from her 'Swan Lake' outdoor display in Chaucer Road.

The kind-hearted users of the social network site had originally clubbed together to buy a replacement bicycle for Alfie Hearn, aged five, from Tiddybrook, Tavistock, who had his Christmas present stolen — another story reported in the Times.

Alison Hatcher started the collection, and her idea was supported by Times advertising executive Lianne Carr, who offered to help.

Thanks to the generosity of the website users, a superb £125.10 was raised — the 10p came from a two-year-old who wanted to make her a personal contribution.

A big discount from Halfords enabled the group to buy a new bike for Alfie for £50, so they decided to donate £50 towards a new 'swan' for Fay, while the rest of the money was donated to the Mary Budding Trust.

Lianne said: 'It was a Christmas thing, and we thought that it was appropriate to give money to children.

'The nice thing is that people who didn't know each other came together after being touched by hearing of little Fay and her stolen swan fairy light.

'People have said to me when they heard about the collection, that it's the community coming together to help each other is what makes living in Tavistock such a pleasure.'

Fay's parents, Jayne and Mike Porter, said they were very 'humbled' that people had made a collection after hearing of her stolen swan.

They said: 'So many people have asked us if we have had the swan back since it was in the newspaper and we had to say no — and now this.

'By coincidence, and when she had no idea she was going to be presented with a new swan, she asked: "Now it's snowing do you think the swan will fly home, mummy?"

'We just can't thank people enough, there are some really lovely people out there.

'Fay kept asking if the "baddies" are going to come back and take the other lights, well, now we can tell her the "Goodies" have returned her beautiful swan.

'It's a fairy tale ending for her; we hoped for one and now we have got it - her swan has flown home. It really has restored the magic to Fay's Christmas.'

l A delighted Fay Porter is presented with her 'new' swan by Times advertising executive Lianne Carr. Picture by James Bird