HARD-WORKING staff at a landfill site have reunited a six-year-old girl with her precious iPad just days ahead of her birthday - after her little brother had thrown it away!

Mum-of-three Gillian Kerr said she and her family were over the moon when Viridor staff contacted her to say the iPad, a Christmas present for six-year-old Zoey, had been found at the landfill site, near Dunbar.

The iPad had been thrown out by Zoey’s younger brother Riley and was tracked down by a team of staff.

Barry Falgate, Viridor Dunbar unit manager, who is Dunbar born and bred, having been born near the site when it was a quarry, said the team were “so happy to be able to help that little girl out” by locating the iPad in the piles of rubbish.

The iPad was recovered from the shed, housing 150 tonnes of rubbish, near Dunbar – the site of a new £177 million Energy Recovery Facility.

He added: “Six men worked through their break to find the iPad and they were thrilled to be successful.”

Gillian explained that the family were moving house when she realised Zoey did not have her iPad.

“I said to her brother Riley (aged four): ‘Do you know where your sister's iPad is?’ And in a very matter-of-fact manner, he told me: ‘Yes, in the bin.’ When I asked why, he just said: ‘Because she annoyed me.’”

Little Riley is sure to be very pleased that Viridor tracked down the iPad, as he stood to lose future Christmas and birthday money so a new device could be bought for his sister and to teach him a valuable life lesson.

Gillian added: “When I reported it to the council and at the Eyemouth Recycling Centre, I really didn't think we'd see it again.

“But the Viridor team took the time to find out where we lived to narrow down where it might be and then to search through the rubbish to find it.

“It has meant so much to our six-year-old.”

Robert Hawrylewicz works at the landfill site in Dunbar and lives just round the corner from Gillian in Eyemouth.

She thanked Robert and his colleagues and added: “It's the small things in life which really make a difference and this really was a good example of members of our community coming together.

“Zoey was devastated when her iPad was lost and just delighted when it was found.

"She was very happy to write a thank you letter and send a £20 present and a box of chocolates to the team.”

The Viridor team sent the £20 (Riley’s Christmas money) back to Zoey but were happy to enjoy the chocolates.

In a letter to Zoey, Pennon (the company which owns Viridor) chief executive officer Chris Loughlin thanked the six-year-old for the thoughtful letter.

Mr Loughlin said: “When we heard what happened to your iPad we all wanted to find it for you. So we were very happy when we found it.

“I’m very pleased it has now made it back home to you where it belongs.

“I have included a voucher for you for iTunes as a thank you for your kind letter.

“I hope you can use this to download some of your favourite songs on to your iPad.”