A block paver who has tirelessly helped rebuild Canvey seafront was today counting his losses after £3,000 of tools were stolen.

It is the third time in three months that Danny Bovill, 23, owner of Elmsleigh Paving at Charfleets industrial estate, has been hit by thieves.

In the first break-in, burglars tried to foil the alarm system fitted to the windows and doors by smashing a hole in the wall of the warehouse.

Once inside, they cut through the side of a van but were disturbed.

Police examined the scene but once they left the brazen thieves pounced again and tried to start the engine of the van. A security guard chased them off but not before they caused £1,400 of damage and stole several items.

In the latest theft, Mr Bovill's work team had stored heavy tools at a house they were working at in Pound Lane, Benfleet.

He returned from a week away and discovered £3,000 of tools had been swiped.

Mr Bovill from Hardys Way, Canvey, said: "I'm sick of it. It was bad enough to be burgled twice in one night at the warehouse but now it has happened again.

"Some of my tools have been imported from Italy and Germany. To hire the same tools would cost me up to £240 per day. The insurance firm only pays out up to £1,000.

"It has cost me around £6,500 this year alone to fix damage and replace tools."

The stolen tools included a special vibrating plate for digging, a hydraulic block cutter and diamond-tipped cutting equipment.

Mr Bovill and his workers have given around £10,000 of time and equipment to the Canvey 2000 project to regenerate the seafront.

They have paved the walkway, installed benches, excavated the site and built the pump room for the water feature, but his part in the project has now been put on hold because he cannot work without his tools.

Mr Bovill has put up a £500 reward for anyone who comes forward with information leading to the conviction of the thieves. Anyone who can help should contact Rayleigh crime desk on 01268 775533.

Picture, top: Danny Bovill.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.