IT was the theft that shocked a city and deprived ill children of some much-needed festive joy.

Heartless thieves threatened to ruin Christmas for youngsters at the city’s hospital when they stole a games console intended as a special present for the sick children.

But kind-hearted people across Hampshire have rallied together to present thousands of pounds’ worth of donations to staff at Southampton General Hospital’s children’s ward to put the sparkle back into Christmas for children.

Today a hospital spokesman described the response as “phenomenal” and hailed the community for showing the true spirit of Christmas.

A generous member of the public had donated a PlayStation 3 console to the hospital, and staff had intended to save it as a special present for youngsters on Christmas Day.

However they discovered on Monday that a thief had forced open the padlocked cupboard the console was contained in and stolen it.

They believe the raider was disturbed as other items were left behind and condemned the thief as “the lowest of the low” and “ruining Christmas” for the sick children who will be stuck in the hospital over the festive period.

Yet after the Daily Echo revealed the sickening theft yesterday, dozens of generous members of the public got in touch to offer gifts to replace the stolen console.

They included nine-year-old Alex Hammond, who decided he did not need his own PlayStation 3 and travelled from his Portsmouth home with mum Emma to hand it over to the hospital.

Emma told the Daily Echo: “Alex said he doesn’t need it, so the children at the hospital can have it. He’s a kind boy and it’s good they will have something now.”

Mike and Clair Brading, from Sholing, Southampton, gathered a hoard of toys to donate, including some Christmas presents given up by their four children.

Their nine-month-old son Charlie, who has spina bifida, has had regular treatment at the children’s ward and 29-year-old Mike said: “It was very important for us to help them, especially the children’s hospital as they really helped my son.”

There was also 25-year-old bank account manager Ashley Rafferty from Eastleigh, who bought a brand new PlayStation 4 during his lunch break and gave it to the hospital, and 30-year-old carpenter Ashley James from Woolston, who spent yesterday collecting scores of games and DVDs to hand over.

Mr Rafferty said: “It’s Christmas, it was a story that touched me. I’ve used the hospital before and I thought why not give something back. It was a despicable act to steal from there.”

And Dave Field, a carpenter from Southampton, handed in a variety of toys.

A Just Giving page set up by Amy Lewis smashed the target of £300 for new equipment within two hours of going online, and had raised more than £1,400 by the time the Daily Echo went to print.

Another page, set up by Clair Roberts raised more than £350 while Southampton Hospital Charity’s page raised more than £1,700.

Bosses at retailer CEX, which stocks new and used consoles, games and films, were also touched and donated a new Playstation 4, controllers and consoles, while Matt Lane, a director at Southampton-based MNL Builders is set to hand over a box full of children’s slippers and Mothercare will give £250 worth of presents.

And Four Horseshoes pub landlord James Couper, his sister Vicki Couper and friend Paul Burden shelled out to buy an Xbox, Playstation 4 and games for the youngsters to enjoy over the festive period.

Volunteers will also hand over scores of gifts for the sick youngsters at the hospital that were raised by a charity gig and raffle held at Talking Heads last night.

The hospital’s play service manager, Joyce Stebbings, said: “We are really touched and humbled by how many people have got in touch with us to do something.

“It’s been absolutely amazing. We never expected this response and we want to say thank you to everyone who has done something.”

Donna Parsons, from the Southampton Hospital Charity, said: “The response from our community has been phenomenal and you can tell people are really in the Christmas spirit by the fact they have donated so many gifts and donations.

Daily Echo:

“We just want to say a massive thank you, and thank you to the Daily Echo for covering this as well.”

Police are continuing to look for the thief who stole the original console.

Anyone with information should contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101 or Crimstoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.