Police officers’ 999 response for Wigan tot’s big day

Leighton Robinson-Rigby loves the emergency services, particularly seeing the lights flash and hearing the sirens on their vehicles.

So he was delighted when a police van pulled up outside his home in Worsley Mesnes to celebrate his second birthday.

His mum Leanne Rigby said: “He was screaming. They were at the bottom of the street and came with the lights and sirens on and he loved it.”

Leanne wanted to make it an extra special birthday for Leighton as she did not expect to be able to spend it with him.

She said: “I have been waiting for an operation for a while and I was supposed to go to have the operation in Liverpool on his birthday, so I was gutted. I thought, how could I make it the best day ever?”

Her son used to cry when he heard sirens, but he now loves emergency service vehicles and it was this passion that gave her an idea.

“He is obsessed now. He is Fireman Sam mad,” she said.

“I thought I would ring around and see if it was possible for someone to visit him. His is only two and he wouldn’t be allowed in the vehicle, but it is the lights and sirens he likes.

“They always wave when he sees them, but it is the vehicles he loves. He’s obsessed with cars, but when it has a siren and lights, he loves it.”

Leanne, 33, called Wigan police station and was told officers could not guarantee they would visit, but they would try.

She initially planned to hold birthday celebrations a day early, but called again to say they would be on Leighton’s actual birthday as her operation was postponed.

And after getting a phone call to say the officers were on their way, Leanne encouraged Leighton to keep looking out of the window for the surprise.

When the police van arrived, the family went outside to greet the officers.

Leanne, who also has two daughters, said: “He was showing them his police car and putting it on the street next to their van. I have never known a kid so obsessed with police cars, fire engines and ambulances. They did belting, it was brilliant.”

She has thanked the officers who visited Leighton for making it such a special birthday.

“I have sent an email to say thank you to the police for everything they did,” she said. “It was brilliant.”

Leanne filmed the special event on her phone - and her son’s reaction - and Leighton has been watching the video again and again since. He has also been playing with his many emergency service toys and vehicles more than ever.

Leanne said “It makes your day when you know they are excited about something. I can’t thank the police enough.”

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