Heartwarming moment bin men sing Happy Birthday and give gift to Sunderland toddler super fan

But today, Friday, October 2, the waste-collecting crew made their usual stop outside his Pennywell home extra special after they heard his third birthday is coming up.

Ahead of his big day on Thursday, October 8, the Sunderland City Council team paused their work for a couple of minutes to deliver a toy version of their own truck and even sang Happy Birthday to him on his doorstep.

A card signed from the team congratulated the “little fella” on his birthday and hailed him their “number one fan.”

Blake is already delighted with his gift after he could not wait a second longer to find out what they had bought him.

His mum Leanne Alderson, 32, got in touch with the Echo to share their joy and thank them for their kind gesture.

Blake, who goes to Little Angels nursery, shares his birth date with big brother Mason Fraser, who will be nine on Thursday, and also lives with Ethan Fraser, 12, and their step-day Kyle Bevans, 28, in Penistone Road.

"Every Friday morning he gets really excited to see the bin wagon and he’s always telling his nursery teacher all about them,” said Leanne.

"If we drive past a bin wagon, he loves it, and it we ever pass the depot on St Luke’s Road he makes us stop so he can see them.

"Last week he looked blue because he wanted to sit out on the wall – they gave him some Kit Kats then.

"I asked them if they would be able to come by next Thursday on his birthday, but they said they couldn’t because they were in Seaburn, but today they stopped and gave him a present, a card and some sweets.

"We want to say a really big thanks. It’s been so hard for them because of the coronavirus and everything else.

"They also sang Happy Birthday, socially distanced.

"What an act of kindness for my little boy.”

Deputy council leader Councillor Paul Stewart, added: “We’re very pleased to hear how the crew have helped make Blake’s day.

"It’s always nice to hear how the council’s frontline teams have fans and that people appreciate all the work they do.”

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