THE search to find a little boy who had painted a 'Thomas the Tank Engine' money box which was handed to a train driver in Gobowen, has been successful.

Last week an appeal was put out by Transport for Wales (TFW) to find the youngster – known only as Toby – who had hand-painted a train-shaped money box which had been handed to one of its drivers in Gobowen.

Geraint Williams was en route from Chester to Birmingham International when he was handed the token on behalf of a 'little boy who loves trains', who we now know is five-year-old Toby Healey from Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire.

Toby's mum Lucy Healey has spoken of her train-mad son's shock at finding out he was in the paper and the news his masterpiece had been handed to a 'real life train driver'.

"Toby bought the train to paint himself," she said.

"He put £2 of his own pocket money in because he wanted them to get a cup of tea because he thought 'they'd be tired' driving the trains.

"We then took the money box to Gobowen Station and handed it to a lady at the ticket office with the request to pass it on to a driver on behalf of Toby.

"The lady must have passed it on after we'd left. We didn't think any more of it then.

"A few days later when we'd gone back home, my stepdad rang at 7.30 in the morning and said 'Toby's in the paper'.

"We showed Toby online and he was so shocked. He instantly asked 'did they get their cup of tea?'

For his kind gesture to one of its drivers, TFW were keen to find Toby, who was visiting family in Oswestry at the time, to offer him a 'how it works tour' of Chester Train Station.

Along with his dad Edward Healey, Toby made his way to Chester Train Station on Friday, for his eagerly-awaited tour.

"He absolutely loved it. He hasn't stopped talking about it since," Lucy said.

"They were so kind and generous with him.

"He had a free trip on the train from Gobowen to Chester and he got to look around Chester Train Station while he was there and have a go on the train simulator.

"And he got a goody bag which he was made up with."

Toby is now looking forward to telling all his friends about his trip when he goes into year one after the summer holidays.

"He's got everything ready to take back to school and show everyone," Lucy added.

"He's just so made up bless him. It made his day."