A DISTRAUGHT single father's children are too terrified to visit him after his home was burgled whilst he took the children to Wembley.

Jason Lawrence, of in Malvern, took his daughter, age 11, and his son, age nine, to watch the England vs Malta game at Wembley on Friday, November 17.

The family arrived back home in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, November 18, to discover upstairs lights on, rooms turned inside out and shattered glass from a forced entry.

Burglars also stole Mr Lawrence's van, which he uses for work as a painter and decorator, but the van has since be found.

Mr Lawrence said: "I am distraught. I have lived at this house since 2006 and I do not want to be here any more.

"My children live with their mother in Hereford, but are too scared to come back here after what happened.

"My daughter has been inconsolable, worrying that the burglars will visit their home as well, to the point where she had to miss school."

Mr Lawrence was so overwhelmed at the time that he did not even notice the van had been taken, until family friends realised when they came over to the house.

He said: "I called the police and some close friends that we went to watch the football with after what happened, and they came over straight away.

"My friend pointed out that the van had been taken, but in the midst of all the panic I just completely had not noticed.

"My friends then took the kids to theirs to they could get some sleep , and I followed a few hours later once I was able to after talking to the police."

The van was found on Collett's Green Road, in Powick, without the key and one window half down.

Mr Lawrence thanked the public for their kindness during what has happened, with hundreds of people taking to social media and sending supportive messages,

He said: "From the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful to every single person who has contacted me about this.

"There have been so many messages on Facebook and WhatsApp, and many I have not even had a chance to see yet.

"I want to respond to everyone personally about this, it really means a lot."

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police confirmed that enquiries into the burglary are ongoing.

They said: "We received a call around 1.45am on Saturday morning (November 18) with a report of a burglary of a property on Queen Elizabeth Road in Malvern.

"Officers attended the property to find that someone had gained entry and taken items from the home along with a vehicle.

"Enquiries are on-going."