IF I had been quicker writing to you, your headline “Flowerpot thief used wheelbarrow,” may have read “Wheelbarrow thief stole flowerpots.”

My wheelbarrow was stolen from my car port on the eve of my 79th birthday. It seemed odd that little else was touched.

Now I’m left with just a crime number, but all is not lost.

My neighbours came to my celebrations the following evening with a present of a new wheelbarrow; all shiny black with a sparkling red wheel.

Please can I thank them publicly and hope that the flowerpot man puts my squeaky, old wheelbarrow to better use.

GEOFF BOYLE Kidderminster