Toys destroyed by rioters are replaced by our kind readers

Generous Evening Standard readers have saved Christmas for a three-year-old boy who was burned out of his home by a mob in the London riots.

Cam'ron Munro and his mother, Charlene, lost all their possessions and were made homeless when their Croydon flat was set ablaze during this summer's unrest.

A picture in the Standard of Cam'ron playing in the debris of his fire-ravaged bedroom with one of his few toys to survive the flames touched the hearts of readers, who donated a sackful of Christmas presents which were given to him today.

They included a computer toy from the cartoon Cars - Cam'ron's favourite film - toy buses, action figures, teddy bears and even a singing toy turtle.

Ten-year-old Toby Cowan, among those who made contact with us to give Cam'ron a toy, also wrote to wish him happy Christmas, adding: "I'm very sorry to read that you lost your toys over the summer. I hope you feel better."

Ms Munro said: "I'm so overwhelmed, so grateful. I want to say a big thank you to Toby and the Standard.

"I wish I could say thank you to every single person who has donated, they've made Cam'ron so happy. All these gifts are really lovely. He can't stop playing with them. He's over the moon, he can't believe he's got so many."

Ms Munro, 30, a single mother, hid for hours in a doorway shielding Cam'ron's eyes as the rioters rampaged around them and the fire destroyed almost all their possessions.

Now rehoused in a council flat, she said: "I'm really grateful to be housed, some people are still in temporary accommodation. I feel settled now, and I'm happy, glad and grateful for somewhere to call home."

Toby's father, Mike, 51, said: "We were horrified about the riots and that they could happen in London. We wanted Cam'ron to know there are lots of good people around, and that he and Charlene should know there are people thinking of them."