A little girl's Christmas was saved at the eleventh hour after burglars stole her presents - thanks to festive fundraisers.

Kerry Dunn was devastated when thieves sneaked into her family's home in Coxwold Walk, Allerton, Bradford, and fled with about £200 worth of presents last Sunday.

But after reading about the 10-year-old's plight in the Telegraph & Argus, the big-hearted members of Shipley Rotary Club rescued her Christmas in true fairy-tale fashion, dishing out a sackfull of presents to her on Christmas Eve at Lowercroft House Police Station. Kerry's dad Michael Dunn, who is unemployed, said: "It is excellent. For someone to go out of their way who does not know us is brilliant. She thinks it's ace. It has restored our faith in humanity. We do not know these people from Adam and they have gone out of their way, especially at such a hectic time of year, just to make Kerry's Christmas better."

The 34-year-old dad added: "It put the excitement and anticipation back into Christmas for Kerry.

"When we were burgled she was the best out of all of us. My wife Andrea could not stop crying and I just wanted revenge. But Kerry was so brave and together. After it happened she said we would just have to put off Christmas and have it later." Kerry was delighted with her gifts from the Rotarians and thanked all of them for making her day.

She said: "I was upset when we were burgled because I thought it was a nasty thing for somebody to do and why did they do it? My mum was crying and that upset me because I had never seen my mum cry so much."

But thanks to the Christmas cheer of Shipley Rotary Club, Santa dropped down Kerry's chimney with a sackfull of presents after all. "I think it's a really nice thing to do," said Kerry. "We do not really know them and I want to say 'thank you'."

The thief sneaked into the Dunns' home through an open window last Sunday night and snatched two bags of presents including CDs, a radio, some videos, a Barbie kitchen, a nine carat gold chain with a K on it and books.

Supt Nigel Hibbert, of Bradford North Police, said: "Crimes of this nature are always distressing at this time of year. The theft of Christmas presents is particularly callous because of the effect it has on young children and reminds us all of the need to be extra vigilant about our home security.