A FAMILY are in shock after callous thieves stole all their children's Christmas presents, as well as a valuable antique clock which was a family heirloom.

A FAMILY are in shock after callous thieves stole all their children's Christmas presents, as well as a valuable antique clock which was a family heirloom.

Jo Kerley, 38, was on her way back from a trip to the zoo with her children when her husband called to say their home in Trafalgar Close, Ipswich, had been burgled.

As well as Christmas presents which were already wrapped and ready to be given to their children, aged one and three, the thieves took a clock which had been a present to Mrs Kerley's great-grandfather, from King George VI.

She said: “You read about it happening all the time and it sounds terrible, but when it actually happens to you it seems so personal.

“I kept thinking 'why did they choose us'?

Mrs Kerley said: “The presents can be replaced but the clock was absolutely unique, a one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable.

“My children are a bit too young to understand what happened - my daughter who is three thinks we were the victims of the Cat Burglar - a character in a book she has read, who is an actual cat.

“But telling my mother about it was the hardest thing - the clock was very special to my dad.”

The clock was given to Mrs Kerley's great-grandfather by King George VI, for long service in the fire brigade.

And the family are offering a £100 reward for anyone who passes information to the police which helps in its return.

The presents were all wrapped and were in a dustbin bag ready for Christmas day.

The burglars struck between 9.15am and 1.30pm on Saturday and as well as the clock and presents they took a digital camera, laptop computer, camcorder, jewellery, china, antiques and about 35 DVDs and 200 CDs.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious or has any information should contact Dc Victoria Mitchell at Ipswich CID on 01473 613500.

Alternatively they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.