COLD-hearted thieves have devastated a Bradford mum by stealing an engraved cross from her child’s grave just two days before Christmas.

Kirstin Boyes and her whole family have been left heartbroken by the cruel theft at Schoolmoor Cemetery, in the city, where her son Jaiden is buried.

The raiders even trampled over the graves of two other children to get to the cross.

But, already, well-wishers have rallied round to ease her pain, helping to restore her faith in humanity.

The Co-op Funeral Service is offering to replace the cross as soon as possible.

Kirstin’s mother, Veronica Craig, had nothing but contempt for the perpetrators.

She told the Telegraph & Argus: “The people who did this are vile. Shame on them.

"Christmas was going to be hard enough anyway as the first one without Jaiden.”

Jaiden was only 23 months old when he died last June.

Veronica, who lives in the Wibsey area of Bradford, said: “He had so many problems right from pregnancy and birth.

"His disabilities were severe and he was in hospital more than he was out.

“That was upsetting enough.”

The family put on a Paw Patrol-themed funeral for Jaiden as the cartoon programme featuring super-hero dogs had kept him delighted for hours.

As a special send-off, characters from the programme were donated and the teddies laid on his grave in an eye-catching display.

Almost immediately, two were stolen.

Kirstin, who lives in Holme Wood, was devastated.

Veronica, who has three other children, said one of the teddies was replaced by a kind well-wisher.

Things then went quiet until Sunday when the family were told of the theft by a friend who was visiting the grave of her own child.

“She always goes to say hello to Jaiden and she saw the cross was gone,” said Veronica.

“That cross was huge and made of strong wood.

"It would have taken two people to lift it from the ground.

“I don’t know how Kirstin is going to do this.

"It would have been bad enough as this will be her first Christmas without Jaiden.”

Veronica said someone from the Co-op Funeral Service saw a post on Facebook and rang to say she will let them have another cross by way of a replacement.

“It is amazing. Absolutely stunning,” she said.

“But how could anyone do this? This is a child’s place of rest.

"There are two new graves nearby and they trampled over those to get to Jaiden.

“We have been through enough. They must be so cold hearted.

"It is Christmas. Supposed to be a time of goodwill.”

Veronica said Jaiden was ‘a beautiful and widely-loved little boy’.

“We have great family support and say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated and been so caring to make a sad situation beautiful,” she said.

“People have come forward and stopped our sadness before it has really begun.

"It has been tempered by the humanity of others and we are grateful beyond words.”

Police are investigating.