Dino-mad boy from Thornaby gets adorable birthday surprise from Asda

Three-year-old Sonny Reilly, who is dino mad, couldn't believe it when Asda home shopping driver Jimmy Anderson from the Thornaby store turned up at his home on his birthday to give him a fantastic wooden T-Rex that he'd made.

Fifty-eight-year-old Jimmy, who has three grown-up children and three grandchildren, has been making intricately-crafted wooden sculptures and plaques for family and friends since the start of the pandemic three years ago.

He said: "When I first made a delivery to Sonny's house he came out growling at me and putting his hands up, like claws. And I said 'what are you?' and he said he was a T-Rex and his mum said he was absolutely dinosaur mad.

"I told Sonny I made T-Rexes, so I showed him one on my phone and his mouth dropped open.  

Three-year-old Sonny Reilly (Image: ASDA)

"I said if he was really, really good I'd make him one.

"He has a little sister too, Sydney, who likes witches and she was flying around the house on a 'broomstick'  when I visited, so I made her wooden witch as well so she didn't feel left out.

"I like to see the reactions on the kids' faces. It costs nothing to be nice."

He added: "I started doing it really when Covid struck, out of boredom.

"I'd always mucked around doing woodwork but thought I'd try something different. I basically print patterns off, any type of design and then I cut them out using a fine-toothed scroll saw.

"I make light boards, where I cut animals out such as giraffes and elephants, and I do name plaques. Whatever takes me fancy really.

"I do it in my spare time – it keeps me out of trouble. I've made hundreds of things for family and friends over the years."

After the generous gift, Sonny's mum Jay Reilly, who lives in Acklam, Middlesbrough, took to Facebook to thank Jimmy for his kindness.

Sonny and Jimmy (Image: ASDA)

She said: "The other day when I had my shopping delivered from Asda, Jimmy, the man who dropped our shopping off, was talking to Sonny about dinosaurs.

"Sonny lives and breathes dinosaurs. He's mad about them.

"Jimmy told Sonny that he made things out of wood and if he thought on he would make him one and drop it off.

"Anyway, I’d totally forgot about it then we got a knock at the door and it was Jimmy with the T-Rex he'd made for Sonny.

"Honestly, this has melted me that he went out of his way for him. It was such a gorgeous thing to do, a very kind gesture.

"So thoughtful. It just shows that there are still some really kind people out there.

"Thank you, Jimmy, you’ve made a little boy very happy."