A mum says Christmas has been ruined after heartless thieves stole thousands of pounds worth of presents.
Anne Dodd, of Stanley , County Durham , woke up to find thieves had broken into her garage and stole £2,000 worth of gifts, mainly for her eight-year-old son, Jamie.
After discovering the presents had been taken, Anne had to tell her son the heartbreaking news.
She said: "I'm just in shock. The presents were material things. The biggest thing is that his innocence was taken away. I had to tell him what happened.
"When we first realised the presents were gone, I will never get that image out of my head, everything was gone and trashed.
"My son said at least he has one present, which is pyjamas, because they were upstairs.
"Everything just hurts so much for him. He was so innocent. No child should have to go through that.
"I'm so angry that someone has taken that away from him."
Anne feels like their privacy has been invaded after knowing someone has been in their home.
She added: "I don't feel safe in the house. The presents have always been kept there up until now. It is just scary. I feel scared in my own home. I don't feel comfortable.
Since discovering the gifts had been taken on Sunday, Anne said they have been overwhelmed by people trying to help.
She said: "There have been so many kind people who have been making donations and trying to help.
"I can't thank everyone enough for what they have done."
Now, Anne and her ex-husband, Steven Dodd, are frantically trying to salvage Christmas for their son.
Anne added: "We are going shopping and trying to get some of things, but it just won't be the same."
Steven, 46, said: "I feel so helpless. I mean you see it on the news and it happens to people, but you don't expect it to happen to yourself.
"When you see the little lad's face - it is just heartbreaking."
A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman confirmed officers are investigating the incident.
She added: " Police were called at 8am on December 22 following the burglary, during which intruders had broken into a garage that was attached to a property in Westfields and stolen all of the victim’s children’s Christmas presents.
"It is believed to have happened sometime between 4.15pm the previous day and 7.40am yesterday morning."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 77 of December 22.
