James Bulger's vandalised stolen grave items found

The family of murdered toddler James Bulger say they have found items taken from his grave when it was vandalised.

The two-year-old was abducted from a Bootle shopping centre in 1993, before being tortured and killed by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson - then both aged 10 - in a crime that shocked the nation.

Two cherub statues next to James' grave in Kirkdale Cemetery were damaged twice in six weeks earlier this year – once in February and and again this month. A fundraiser to repair the headstone amassed more than £23,000.

Earlier this month, a 78-year-old man, from Kirkby, was arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage.

In a post on the Facebook page of the James Bulger Memorial Trust charity, his family said they had "found the 2 vandalised cherub heads" following a tip-off.

"We have also now found the original sleeping cherub and a couple of other items stolen from James's resting place."

• Who was James Bulger and what happened to his killers?

They said items had also been seized from other graves and police would return them to the families concerned.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.