Doncaster schoolboy left heartbroken after £1,000 violin stolen from bus

Garna Wallace accidentally left the musical instrument - valued at £1,000 - on the seat of the bus as he returned home from school yesterday afternoon.

Now his mum Antonia is offering a reward for the return of the 19th century French violin which was taken from the bus somewhere between Gringley on The Hill, where the family live and its final destination of Doncaster.

She said: "He is absolutely bereft. He is so uspet and he looked terrible when he got in from school. Hopefully someone will know something about what has happened to his violin."

Garna was making his way home from Queen Elizabeth High School at around 4.30pm when he realised he had left the violin - inside its black case - on the 98 Stagecoach service between Gainsborough and Doncaster.

Added Antonia: "He was quite weighed down with his school bag and books, his cooking from school and simply just forgot about the violin which was on the seat next to him.

"He realised straight away as he got off the bus that he had left it, but it was too late."

Dad William tried to follow the bus in his car but was unable to track it down until its return journey to Gainsborough where they discovered the violin - a present from Garna's grandma - had been taken from the bus.

She added: "I've been in touch with the bus company. It hasn't been handed in at the depot so someone must have taken it. The worst thing is is that the violin Garna had was not the cheap one he uses on a day to day basis but the expensive one he uses for competitions and performances.

"It was a gift from his grandma and cost £1,000. I hope someone out there will be able to help us get it back. I couldn't be angry that he had taken his best one to school as he was so upset."

The bus company has told Mrs Wallace that it will review CCTV footage from the bus. The incident has also been reported to the police with the hope that someone will come forward with information.

Garna, a grade four violinist, plays in the school's orchestra and has also taken part in contests, with his mum describing him as "very committed to his music."

She added: "We are prepared to offer a reward. It isn't just the cost - its the fact that he took such a long time to choose it and loved it. He has only had it about one and a half years."

Anyone with information about the missing violin, can contact the Doncaster Free Press newsdesk on (01302) 347255 or [email protected] and we will pass on the details to the family.