A MAN has told how he gave chase after his camper van was stolen in front of him.

Thieves took Andy Rivett’s L-registration white Toyota Hiace Devon Sunrise camper van from Wilmot Close, Eastleigh.

The van has a very loud exhaust which the 42-year-old heard.

He leapt from his bed in time to see it being driven away as he reached the door.

He got in his car and followed but lost the trail at the top of the road.

And despite driving around later he failed to find it.

The night before the theft, Andy had locked all the windows and doors of the vehicle and he still has all the keys – it is not known how it was stolen.

The camper van, which is 20 years old and worth about £4,000, is used for holidays and has a distinctive inside with a push-up canvas-type roof.

Inside there is red, white and blue cotton bunting and a patchwork quilt in yellow, blue and red. The interior door handles have a floral pattern.

Andy said they had planned to use the camper van at the weekend to stay over in Lymington with visiting family and his partner Kim Rogers, 32, and daughter Florence, two.

“I’m frustrated because we have lost stuff,” he said.

“It’s the personal loss, the attachment to it and the future that we attached to it.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident, at 5.30am last Wednesday, or who has information, should call Eastleigh police on 101 or give information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.