AN electrician was left devastated after his van and equipment valued at more than £50,000 was stolen by opportunistic thieves while staying at The Villagio Hotel in Bewsey.

Dad-of-two Richard Wood fears he may have lost his livelihood after thieves struck at 1.30am on August 21 to steal the Ford Transit van with the registration plate CV67 MWF.

It is understood the thieves were travelling in a blue van when they struck at the hotel car park off Folly Lane.

Richard, 33, said: "I woke up miles away from home in a hotel room after what felt like a seriously long Monday.

"I was ready to start another 15 hour day where I would be making my way around the UK upgrading the electric car chargers only to find my new van had been stolen along with all my tools from 15 years of sparking, and all the material needed to carry out the jobs.

"To say I'm totally gutted would be an understatement.

"I have even watched the low lives on the hotel CCTV footage."

Richard had bought the van on finance seven months.

He is still waiting to hear back from his insurance company but he expected to be out of pocket by thousands of pounds.

The materials and equipment that were stolen have been valued at £27,600 – some of the items are priceless as they are tools he had collected over the years.

"This is the second week that I have been out of work along with my other employees who I'm still paying," said Richard, from south Wales.

"It's been a right nightmare.

"It probably going to put me out of business."

Anyone with information has been urged to email richiewood9@hotmail.com.