A GENEROUS donation has restored a Yeadon school’s faith in people following a heartless theft.

The thieves who targeted Queensway Primary School in early December stole the balance bikes that are used by its nursery and reception classes.

The crime left staff and pupils dismayed and they took to social media to ask for help.

Posting on its Facebook page on December 3, the school said: “Last night we had our balance bikes stolen which were locked away on the school grounds.

“The police have been notified but please can everyone look out for any of our bikes being sold around the local area, on ‘Buy and Sell’ sites etcetera.

“They have been a valuable resource for our Foundation Stage children and we are deeply upset that this has happened.”

Just a few months earlier, in September, the school had posted photographs on the page of pupils enjoying the bicycles with a caption that read: “Reception class loved giving the new balance bikes a whirl on Friday.

“We hope to continue the training on a weekly basis whilst the weather is looking fine.”

The stolen bikes have not yet been recovered but they have been replaced - thanks to a group of Good Samaritans.

Three members of Leeds-based recruitment firm Apex Search and Selection, along with two friends, heard about what had happened while competing as a pub quiz team at the Banyan Bar and Kitchen, in Horsforth.

The team - Adam Vallor, Mike Wright, Daniel Evans, Karl Unwin and Junaid Saleem - immediately decided to act to replace the stolen bicycles.

They have now presented the school with ten brand new balance bikes in a gesture which Queensway Primary’s Headteacher, Will Riley, praised for its ‘generosity of spirit’.

He said: “We are all tremendously grateful to Apex Search and Selection for their generosity and kindness of spirit during what was initially a very upsetting time for the pupils in school.

“I would like to thank them for their kind donation which goes a long way towards ensuring that our pupils maintain access to the best possible resources that the school can provide.”

The pub quiz team had found out about the theft from Emma Thornton, a Learning Support Assistant at the school who also works at Banyan Bar and Kitchen.

Director of Apex Search and Selection, Adam Vallor, said: “We were all pretty heartbroken when Emma told us someone had broken in and stolen the kids’ bikes.

“We couldn’t believe someone could do that.

“It took us 30 seconds to decide that we wanted to do something to help.

“So we all got together and agreed to make it right and get them some new bikes.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that the kids at the school will be able to get back out and play on their new bikes straight away. We hope they enjoy them!”