AN ENFIELD company has stepped in to help a children’s charity after gates were stolen from the site of a planned new hospice in Barnet.

Thieves took the wrought iron gates from the site in Byng Road owned by Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice over the New Year bank holiday weekend, leaving the site unprotected.

The charity, which helps children with life limiting diseases and their families, appealed through the Times Series for donations to help replace the gates, and got a call from David Johnson, owner of PSL Automation.

The Lockfield Avenue based firm, which makes security gates, agreed to replace the stolen ones, which police believe were taken for their scrap value, getting apprentice Charlie Cole to create them.

Mr Johnson said: “We do already have a connection to Noah’s Ark through my father, so when I saw they needed a gate I knew I should do something.

“I can’t believe people would knowingly steal gates from a charity, but there are some hard times at the moment. These ones will last here until they start the redevelopment.

“I’m so pleased we’re able to help out, it’s such a worthwhile cause and I don’t want a charity to have to spend money which could help kids on things like gates.”

Noah’s Ark worker Marion Rees, praised the company for their generosity, saying: “It’s an extraordinary thing that people are so unbelievably generous.

“People look at this site and think it’s unloved, but it’s not, it really means so much to everyone at Noah’s Ark, so we’re grateful to anyone who helps us protect it.

“We share this site with Barnet Nature Reserve and the London Wildlife Trust, so they will also benefit from what we’re doing here.”