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Potter fan sent 'special' wand after losing his

Family handout / PA Richard, aged six, with blond hair and blue eyes, holding his new wand, wearing 'Harry Potter'-style glasses, a festive Christmas jumper and jeans while sitting by a model of the Hogwarts Express at homeFamily handout / PA
Six-year-old Richard says he now "feels like a wizard" thanks to the kind gesture

A six-year-old Harry Potter fan who was given a wand by a kind stranger after losing his says he feels "like a wizard now".

Richard saved up his pocket money from doing chores for his grandparents to purchase a £33 Sword of Gryffindor wand at the Harry Potter shop on Platform 9 3/4 in King's Cross Station.

However, the youngster was left feeling "sad" after he accidentally left it on a London Overground to Watford Junction train that same day on Sunday 10 November.

As if by magic, after his father Matthew posted online, a woman from Washington, near Sunderland, posted a new one to him via "special" delivery.

Matthew said a friend informed him about Facebook's online lost and found service - called Lostbox - which led to him posting on 12 November to see if anyone could help.

Angela Mcgeoch, who lives 260 miles away, commented below the post about her own 13-year-old son's wand "sat in a box in his room" that she wanted to give to Richard.

'Feel like a wizard'

Hundreds of people have interacted with a follow-up post from Lostbox about the young Harry Potter fan with his new wand.

Richard - whose favourite character from the JK Rowling book series is Harry - said: "I was happy as I don't get post a lot. I feel like a wizard now I have a wand."

Ms Mcgeoch also sent him a letter, purporting to be from Hogwarts.

It said: "Dear Richard, it was brought to my attention that you had misplaced your wand.

"I find this very sad as you were just becoming a fantastic 'wizard'. Therefore I hope you accept this one as a replacement.

"Safe spells, Hogwarts."

Family handout / PA Richard standing and smiling in his family living room and holding the 'Hogwarts' letter sent from Angela Mcgeoch that arrived with his new wand. Richard is wearing a checked shirt over a black dinosaur-print t-shirt, jeans and socksFamily handout / PA
A beaming Richard with the handwritten Hogwarts letter that arrived with the new wand

Matthew, 51, said: "The reaction really did surprise me and just the fact Angela reached out was really heartfelt.

"She's an incredible person.

"I do believe there's goodness in the world."

Richard has since been busy perfecting his spells with his new wand and making his way through the Harry Potter books.

Family handout / PA Matthew holding Richard as a toddler in a pub. Matthew is wearing a black fancy dress outfit and Richard is dressed up as a mini Harry Potter in a school uniform, wearing a red and yellow hopped beanie hat and holding a wand.Family handout / PA
Matthew, pictured with Richard several years ago, is one of the first single gay fathers through surrogacy in the UK

Ms Mcgeoch, 46, said when she saw the online post she instantly remembered her son had a wand he no longer used as he had "lost his magic".

She said it felt worthwhile to see the youngster's delight.

"It was so lovely to see Richard smile, I showed my son and he was over the moon and said he was glad he was happy," she added.

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