A four-year-old girl whose egg stall was destroyed by a gang of balaclava-clad youths during her birthday party has been given a brand new one.
Maisie Willis would regularly sell eggs from her pet chickens to passers-by on her street in Holbury, near Southampton, before it was cruelly vandalised.
However, the heartbroken toddler’s little business has been saved after Aldi donated its new wooden toy range to Maisie.
Maisie was all smiles as she posed next to her brand new stand – where she sells half-a-dozen eggs for £2 using the profits to pay for the chickens’ upkeep.
The stand was smashed and eggs were thrown all over the road during Maisie’s birthday party last month.
Maisie’s mother Chelsea Willis, 28, tracked down the balaclava-wearing teenagers who apologised for what they had done. She later reported the incident to Hampshire Police.
After the story went viral, Aldi stepped in to give her its latest wooden toy range – complete with a wooden shop to replace the stolen version.
Maisie said: ‘I was really upset about my egg stand but I feel much better now. Thank you Aldi for all of the toys!’
Maisie was all smiles as she posed next to her brand new stand. The heartbroken toddler’s little business has been saved after Aldi donated its new wooden toy range to Maisie
Pictured: One of the balaclava-clad youths who stole Maisie’s egg stand
Mrs Willis said: ‘The whole thing was really devastating – we still can’t believe someone would do that to a four-year-old.
‘Thankfully there is some kindness left in the world – thank you Aldi for making an awful situation better.’
Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: ‘We were appalled to hear that Maisie’s egg stand had been stolen.
‘We’re very pleased to be able to help in any way we can and hope that she enjoys her new wooden toys.’
Speaking about the incident last week, Mrs Willis said: ‘She has been collecting all the eggs, boxing them up, and selling them from a wooden stand in our front driveway.
‘During the party one of her customers knocked on the door.
‘They said two lads had stolen the stand, smashed it, and thrown the eggs all over the road.’
The mother added that before the new stall arrived the family put a basket on the doorstep so Maisie could keep selling the
Maisie at her egg stand where she sells half-a-dozen eggs for £2 using the profits to pay for the chicken’s upkeep
PICTURED: Maisie’s destroyed egg stand. The incident was reported to Hampshire Police
‘Maisie kept asking how she’s going to sell her eggs. We’ve put a basket on the doorstep to keep her going.
‘She works really hard and doesn’t even keep the money for herself – it goes into looking after the chickens. I can’t understand why two boys would want to destroy everything she has worked for.’
Mrs Willis’ husband Tony, 38, added: ‘I was barbecuing everyone’s lunch when my sister-in-law said someone had stolen the egg stand.
‘I thought she was winding me up, but a neighbour saw two boys carrying it down an alleyway and came round to tell us.’
The incident was reported to Hampshire Police.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘It’s reported that two youths damaged an egg stand, belonging to a child. The incident remains under investigation.’
