An autistic teenager is “over the moon” after thieves with a conscience returned his prized collection of Dr Who figures.

Dozens of toy Daleks, Weeping Angels and Cybermen literally turned up on his doorstep, days after the Telegraph & Argus published an appeal for their return.

About 75 figures were stolen from a caravan in the garden of 15-year-old Matthew Gibson’s home in Bullroyd Lane, Fairweather Green, Bradford.

His mum, Ann-Marie, told how her son used the plastic toys, which he had been collecting since he was eight, to create short Dr Who films to post on YouTube. Mrs Gibson, 40, told how her son did not have many friends and the figures were important to him. He wrote all the plots, created characters, and did the filming and editing.

Mrs Gibson said her son was distraught when he discovered the theft and had not been able to go into the caravan since. Yesterday she told how the figures had suddenly turned up.

“I opened the back door to let the dog out and there was a cardboard box on the doorstep," said Mrs Gibson. “Inside was a plastic supermarket carrier bag, containing the figures.

“Not all of them were there, but the majority have come back. Matthew was absolutely ecstatic – over the moon.”

Mrs Gibson said the figures had to be put in “quarantine” for 12 hours while they were cleared by police for any forensic evidence.

Mrs Gibson said: “I would like to think that, if the story in the T&A did not prick the thief’s conscience, someone else did it for him having seen the story. We had lots of e-mails from members of the public, offering to donate to Matthew, which was fantastic, and I am eternally grateful to them for their kindness. My faith in humankind has been restored.”