The parents of a child who suffers from severe autism were left devastated when arsonists set fire to a shed they had converted into a sensory room for his Christmas present.

Fiona and Wesley Ratcliff saved for months and, along with generous family members, spent hours installing a summer house complete with lights, music and a padded floor for little Harvey, seven.

But when they went to unveil the gift on Christmas Day morning they found heartless robbers had not only stolen equipment but set fire to the shed in an attack police have branded 'disgusting and cowardly'.

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Distraught Fiona, 34, said Christmas had been 'ruined' for the family, of Culmere Road, Woodhouse Park.

She explained: "Harvey is autistic and suffers from Phelan-McDermid syndrome. He has a processing disorder and he doesn't recognise danger. "Sometimes he forgets skills he's learned and there are mornings when he wakes up and cannot remember how to walk."

(Image: Joel Goodman)

Mum-of-two Fiona, who works part-time at Next, added: "He's really hard to get presents for and everyone wanted to chip in. It was going to be his own space, somewhere safe where he could do his own thing. We bought the shed for about £500 and he loves lights and music so we got lasers, disco lights, rope lights and a digital radio. We also laid a padded floor so he wouldn't hurt himself and painted it sky blue for City because he's a massive City fan.

"The shed was delivered and my husband and the family spent hours sorting it out."

But disaster struck just before Harvey was to see his present for the first time when dad Wesley, a support worker, went out to get it ready.

(Image: Joel Goodman)

"He started shouting," said Fiona. "I ran out and saw it and I just couldn't do anything, I was so stunned.

"We are all utterly devastated. It's not millions but we've all worked really hard. It feels like we've not had a Christmas.

"The one good thing is that Harvey is scared of the kitchen so he hasn't seen it."

The fire spread to the family's guinea pig hutch but further tragedy was averted when Zaba and Yaya, named after City players Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure, turned up unhurt later on.

"One was hiding under the hutch and the other was in next door's garden so at least we had something to smile about," said Fiona.

Detective Inspector Jane Curran said: "This truly is heartbreaking, the family, like every other family across Greater Manchester, were really looking forward to showing their son his Christmas present this morning when they woke. Whoever did this really has no morals whatsoever. It is a disgusting and cowardly crime.

"Thankfully we think that the weather overnight extinguished the fire otherwise we may have been dealing with a much more serious incident today."

Anyone with information should contact officers on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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