A CHOCOLATE bar stolen during a £6,000 wrecking sortie by heavy-handed thieves at Buckfastleigh’s steam railway station has been replaced… by a wellwisher from Malta.

Steam fan Phil Jackson sent a bumper bar of Cadbury’s by courier post all the way from the Mediterranean island to cheer up theft victim Dennis Johnson.

Station manager Mr Johnson’s personal bar of chocolate was one of several items snatched by the marauders during their ransacking orgy in the early hours of January 20, a Friday.

Mr Jackson, who read about the theft plight online, told SDR: ‘I was saddened to hear about the break-in at the railway. I’ve never been, but you’re on my “to do” list. I have ordered a gift to be sent to the station manager at Buckfastleigh.

‘However, I couldn’t put a gift message on it. Still, I hope you all get to share it and it brings a smile to your faces – even if it’s just a little one.’

Read full story in the Friday, February 3 edition of the Mid-Devon Advertiser