A LYMM pensioner has been ‘touched’ by the response from the community after a thief stole his holly tree last December.

Albert Youd was left distraught after the holly tree, which has been in his front garden for decades, was stole while he was ill in hospital.

But the community rallied together to raise the funds to replace the tree and, within hours, enough money had been raised to buy a full-sized replacement.

The new tree was planted last month by a gardening firm.

Albert said: “I’d like to thank everyone who did this.

"I was so touched with the response and it really makes you realise how many lovely people there are out there.”

Albert’s daughter Ruth said that her father is still managing to get out and garden but is 'finding it a little bit harder'.

Both Albert and Ruth decided to plant a smaller holly tree that is easier to maintain, meaning there was money left over from the donations.

The leftover funds will be donated to the luncheon club at the Oughtrington Community Centre.

His daughter added: “He just always thinks of people like himself, who are getting to an age where they can’t get out and do anything.

“He wanted the rest of money to be put into the community for people like himself.”

Albert’s daughter added that her father was especially devastated about the theft as she used the holly tree as part of her floristry work.

The theft was discovered by Albert’s grandson Andrew, who noticed the tree had been chopped down, leaving only the stump behind on the grass.

It is understood the thief spoke to the neighbours prior to the theft, claiming that they had arranged with the pensioner to cut the tree down despite him being in hospital. However, Ruth states that her father would never have let anyone do any work unless it was her or her husband.