Disabled boy's equipment stolen

The Communicator is specially programmed for Andrew

Police are appealing for the return of equipment which helps a 10-year-old disabled boy to speak.

Burglars stole the touch-operated speech machine while Andrew Bowler, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was on holiday with his family.

The Dynamite Communicator, worth £5,500, was taken from their home in Reddish, Greater Manchester.

The equipment is essential for Andrew to communicate, but is programmed for him and useless to anyone else.

Sergeant Denise Worth, from Greater Manchester Police, said the keyboard was stolen between Saturday 24 May and Thursday 29 May.

'Desperately needed'

She said it was possible that the thieves may have dumped the equipment, and urged anyone who saw it to contact police.

Andrew's mother, Mary Bowler, said: "Without the keyboard Andrew can communicate with his close family and friends by pointing to things and making himself understood but he can't interact at school.

"It's expensive equipment but we can't even begin to put a price on its benefit to Andrew.

"We desperately need it back and we would ask whoever stole it to return it."

The keyboard was supplied by the Sunrise Medical company and paid for jointly by the NHS and Stockport Education Authority.