Ten-year-old Owen leaves teddies on the graves of 'little angels'

Young Owen asked his mother to put out an appeal through her Facebook page asking for teddies to place on the graves.

The schoolboy then collected 12 teddies and wrapped them in freezer bags to protect them from the wet weather before returning to St Peter's Churchyard.

Relatives have been moved to tears by his warm-hearted gesture. They have swamped a social media site with praise for his handiwork. And more than 2,000 people have posted comments.

Mum Mary said: "I'm bursting with pride."

Owen was with his mother when she visited the grave of her sister Denise who is buried close to the row of 12 children's graves in a quiet corner of the cemetery.

All of the youngsters died within their first year, most surviving only weeks. The dedicated plot, beside a mother and child sculpture, is filled with colourful tributes in the shape of snowmen, penguins, butterflies, windmills and angels.

"Owen said he'd like to give them all teddy bears for Christmas. We asked people on Facebook and a dog rescue lady gave us six. When we'd got enough, he put them in freezer bags, so they wouldn't get wet, with a little tag on each one. I never expected it would cause such a reaction."

She said Owen, who attends Sherbrook Primary, Cannock, for children with learning difficulties, wrote out all the gift labels himself.

"I didn't realise what people were saying on Facebook until my sister said 'Have you seen this?'

"I'd like to thank everyone for all the nice things they've said about my son. He'd been asking his dad about what a saint was, and whether this meant he was a saint now. All I know is he's a lovely little boy who always puts others first."

One of those touched by his gesture was Emma Machell, whose daughter Lacey is buried in one of the plots.

She said: "I started crying when I saw it. I couldn't believe that a little boy, a complete stranger, had taken time out of his Christmas to think not only of my little girl but all the other babies that can't be with us. It was such a kind and thoughtful thing to do."

The 29-year-old, of Heath Gap Road, Cannock, lost her daughter, one of identical twins, on October 26, two years ago after she was born three months prematurely, weighing 2lb 4oz. She lived for just five weeks. Her sister Layla, who weighed 2lb 2oz, survived.

The mother-of-three, who also has a 10-month-old son, visited the cemetery on Boxing Day. She said she was so overwhelmed, she posted a picture of the grave, taken by her partner Simon, and posted it on her Facebook page, asking whether anyone knew how she could contact Owen.

It wasn't until she put the appeal on the Burntwood Mums web page that she got a response. She has now arranged to meet Owen.

She said: "Within half an hour, I had a contact. Other parents had had the same experience. Everyone was just amazed by this little boy's thoughtfulness.

"I'd love nothing more than to be able to give him a little present back, as what he has done means so much to us.

"I definitely need to do something to make him feel as special as he made us feel when we found the present. Words just aren't enough."