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A little boy left a heartbreaking note on a cuddly toy after his mum said she couldn't buy it for him until payday.

Leon Ashworth, 10, spotted the toy panda while he was shopping in Asda with his mum Debbie.

He cuddled the cute toy as they walked around the store, but his mum told him to put it back as she didn't have the money to treat him, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Determined not to say goodbye to his new friend Pandy, he found a cardboard box and scribbled a message to other shoppers on the side.

(Image: Liverpool Echo/ASDA WS)

He wrote: “My mum didn't have enough money to buy me Pandy so she’s buying me Pandy on 15th june so please don't buy him as it will make me sad and I will cry, thank you so much from hopeful future owner”.

Staff at the store found the note and were so moved by Leon's message they decided they wanted to help.

They all clubbed together to buy the toy and put a message on Facebook to try and track Leon down.

(Image: Liverpool Echo/ASDA WS)

His mum Debbie, who works in intensive care, spotted the Facebook post.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, she said: “I didn’t click on the story at first, and then I realised that it was the same panda that Leon had wanted and left in the shop.

“He kept cuddling it and carried it round the shop, but at the time I just couldn’t afford it. There was only two left in the store, so I thought that I could buy one for him online if needs be.

“I told him to put it back and hope that no-one bought it but I didn’t know that he had left a message with it until he told me as we left.

(Image: Liverpool Echo/ASDA WS)

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“I couldn’t believe what the staff had done. When I told Leon, he was in tears. I am absolutely over the moon.”

Staff at the store presented Leon with his new toy, and Pandy is now settling in to his new home.

Mum-of-three Debbie said: "It’s been a rough year for Leon but you have given him something to smile about.

“When we left the shop with Pandy, Leon turned to me and said that it was the best day of his life.”