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Thieves broke into the home of a four-year-old cancer sufferer and stole his spending money for a dream holiday.

The boy and his family, from Bury, Greater Manchester, were preparing to leave for Disneyland in Paris on a trip paid for by the Make-A-Wish Foundation when the burglars struck.

It is thought the house may have been targeted after the boy, who has a rare muscle cancer, featured in a TV documentary.

Up to £20,000 worth of personal items were taken, including a bike, a TV, computer consoles and games, and jewellery.

The raiders also stole the family's Ford Fiesta from outside their home in Spenser Avenue and later abandoned the burnt-out vehicle.

The foundation had given the family - who do not wish to be named - the flight tickets in a presentation box along with some spending money, which was also taken.

Police are appealing for information about the break-in which took place between 8pm on Monday and 4.30am on Tuesday.

The intruders used a ladder from an outbuilding to break in through an upstairs window.

Superintendent Mark Granby said: "What this family has been through is absolutely heartbreaking.

"The holiday had been paid for by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and was to be the little boy's dream holiday.

"While they are still able to go away, their spending money has been taken away from him by some cruel and heartless thieves.

"The family's circumstances have featured on a television documentary so we are investigating the possibility they have been deliberately targeted, which would make this an even more callous and cowardly act by the culprits who must have known the pain and upset their actions would cause.

"Apparently, this did not bother them and they stooped as low as to steal this little boy's spending money, which is unforgivable."

Anyone with information should call the Bury Volume Crime Team on 0161 856 8115 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

