YOUNG ALEX Turner is fascinated with washing machines.

He spends every minute of his spare time tinkering with them, trying to repair the old machines that fill the garden of his Crosland Moor home.

But now Honley High School student Alex, who has a form of autism, has been dealt a second blow by thieves.

They have burgled the family home and stolen three of the nine machines that Alex had collected.

Alex, 12, has Asperger syndrome and is fascinated by the machinery of washing machines, tumble driers and dishwashers.

Even when he is not working on the machines himself, he loves to help with the laundry at home – or to watch machines on the internet.

Dad Philip, who is secretary of the Huddersfield Support Group For Autism, said: “There is a whole different world out there, with so many people fascinated by the washing machines.

“Many of them post films on the internet and Alex loves to watch.

“When the Examiner reported a year ago that thieves had stolen the old washing machine he had in our garden, people responded with kindness.

“In the weeks and months that followed, we had a total of nine old machines given to us which Alex loved.

“He had eight in the garden and one in the living room and loved taking them to bits and seeing if they could work after he had put them back together.”

Mr Turner, of College Street East, believes doorstep callers have taken the machines.

“We have had two or three people knocking at the door asking if they could take away the machines for scrap.

“We politely told them that we wanted to keep them but it seems someone has waited until we have taken the children to school before sneaking into the garden to steal three of them.

“It must have taken at least two men and a truck to get away with three machines.

“They have no value to anyone other than Alex and he is upset”.

Police are investigating the theft.

LIFETIME CONDITION

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. Like other types of autism it is a lifelong condition.

People with autism find it more difficult to read people’s emotions and communicate than people without the condition.

People with Asperger syndrome can develop an intense, sometimes obsessive, interest in specific things.

From this they can develop an exceptional knowledge in their field.

With encouragement, their interests and skills can be developed so they can study or work in their favourite subjects.