A family were devastated to return home from work to find their house ransacked and £10,000 cash stolen.

Burglars struck at the Queen Mary Avenue home in Colchester between 2.30pm and 6pm on Friday, getting in through the conservatory.

Lee Manley, who lives at the house with her husband Ian, daughter Stacey and family friend Norman Rampton, said yesterday: "I still feel absolutely dreadful about the whole thing, knowing that someone else knows all about my house and my possessions.

"Ian spent the whole of yesterday fitting a burglar alarm; we never felt the need for one before but feel differently now."

Items stolen included jewellery, a camcorder, store cards, chequebook and a hand-held television plus £10,000 cash which belonged to Mr Rampton, who is a motorcycle dealer.

"We did not know he had that much money in the house, no-one did," said Mrs Manley.

Scenes of crime officers from Colchester police have been at the house over the weekend taking fingerprints and examining footprints left across the conservatory roof and at the back of the house.

"We have been totally shaken by the whole experience and still have not really come to terms with what has happened," said Mrs Manley.

The Manleys and Mr Rampton are offering a £1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the burglars.

If you can help the police with their investigation contact the Colchester station on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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