THEY were the Christmas presents that three Hampshire brothers had dreamed of.

For months, their parents had struggled to save almost a thousand pounds to buy three mini-motorbikes for their sons.

But, just two days after Christmas Day, festive joy turned to sadness when thieves broke into the family's home and stole the bikes from their garage.

Heidi Edwards' three sons were given the gifts of a lifetime on Christmas Day when they unwrapped their mini-motorbikes at their home in Lordshill.

Now, Ms Edwards' young family are appealing for help to try and trace the motorcycles, which were not insured.

Warehouse worker Heidi, 34, and her partner Kevin Harding, 35, presented the three bikes to their sons Sam, 14, Ben, 13, and Nicholas, 11, after saving for the presents for months.

The three youngsters had only used their bikes a few times before the thieves broke into the family's padlocked garage in Croydon Close, Southampton, and made off with the valuable machines on Tuesday night.

Heidi said: "Kevin got up at about 5.45am on Wednesday morning and noticed the garage door was open. When he went inside the bikes had all gone. The boys woke up later in the morning and I had to tell them.

"How could somebody stoop so low and take kids' Christmas presents?"

Shirley police have branded the theft "cruel" and are appealing for people to help return the bikes to the boys.

The motorcycles look like adult miniature motorcycles.

They comprise a dark blue Minimotard petrol-run bike, a green and black Minimoto Kawasaki Ninja 2 x 7R and a blue and silver Minimoto 49cc midi-superbike R1.

The latter bike was without its wheels at the time of the theft and would have to have been carried from the scene or put in a vehicle.

Anyone who may have witnessed the theft or is offered the bikes for sale should contact PC Louisa Wright at Shirley Police Station on 0845 045 4545.

In a separate incident, a disabled Southampton mum's Christmas turned sour when thieves stole a string of Christmas lights worth £30 from outside her home.

Michelle Lane, 49, who has polio, discovered the theft after returning from a sales shopping trip.