The overwhelming response received by a young lad after he was beaten up for his football

A 13-year-old boy has had an "overwhelming" positive response after WalesOnline reported how he had been beaten up for his beloved football, with messages of love and support coming from "all over the world".

As previously reported, Josh Bennett left his Port Talbot home to see friends, when he was punched and kicked by a group of children because they wanted his new Champion's League football.

Now, after receiving loving support from the community - including an ex-British strongman, Swansea City, and a local football charity, his mother has said their family's "faith in humanity has been restored"

' I was run over by a car when I was 13 and my life just spiralled down from there'

Josh was in Walter Street, Port Talbot, at the end of January when a group approached him asking to buy his football for £2.50. Upon declining the offer, Josh was repeatedly punched and kicked.

Josh's mother, Hayley Bennett, said the incident had left her son in tears and afraid to leave the house alone.

But he has since told his mum, "the bullies haven't won yet", after the amazing response to the incident. Hayley said their family had been "blown away by the kindness of strangers".

"Josh was so upset when it all happened and we just wanted to raise awareness that this sort of bullying still goes on and we wanted to find who was responsible. We just couldn't believe the amount of love he's had since, we're just shocked at the magnitude of support and wanted to say thank you" said Hayley.

The family said they had spent countless hours going through supportive comments and had received numerous offers to purchase footballs for the 13-year-old.

The football had a special sentimental value to Josh, after his younger brother had saved up to