Readers of Isle of Thanet Extra and listeners to kmfm radio have been praised for helping reunite a little Ramsgate boy with a comfort blanket.

Ryan Jenkin took Blankie Blue everywhere with him since he was an infant, including holidays, day trips and hospital appointments.

He was distraught when the blanket was lost on a shopping trip to Ramsgate and his worried parents told him that Blankie was accidentally locked in a shop and they would rescue him.

Ryan’s mum Melissa contacted the newspaper in desperation to find a blanket like the missing one. She said: “It was our last chance. Once the story and picture of Ryan appeared and the tale was mentioned on air, we started to get phone calls. Eventually we found a caller called Diane who had a blanket exactly the same as Blankie, although a little newer. Ryan is overjoyed and won’t let Blankie out of his sight.

“It may only seem like a little thing but to Ryan it means everything. I cannot thank the kindness and care of those thoroughly decent people who offered to help, and our family is indebted to Isle of Thanet Extra and kmfm for its help. Without you, this would never have happened.”