William Slatter, who was working on Colchester's Winter Wonderland in Castle Park, has tools stolen from Premier Inn car park, Ipswich Road

A carpenter had a lifetime of tools stolen within minutes of arriving in Colchester.

William Slatter came to the town to put the finishing touches to the ice rink at the Winter Wonderland in Castle Park.

But he left with an empty van after a professional gang of thieves stole almost £10,000 of tools.

Mr Slatter is understood to be one of a number of victims whose vans were raided by the gang of thieves targeting Colchester car parks and hotels.

Mr Slatter, 42, is an expert at constructing the sides around ice rinks and has built those used on the hit television show Dancing on Ice.

He said: “I parked at 11.23pm at the Premier Inn car park off Ipswich Road and CCTV has two people breaking in at 11.26pm.

“I had arrived on the Friday night to work on the ice rink on Saturday but I couldn’t do any work.

“They pulled up in a silver Estate and opened the side door using an encoded key.

“They were gone in six minutes."

Mr Slatter added: "The police and hotel were brilliant.

“The officer said they had eight in one day at a hotel down the road.”

Mr Slatter, who also specialises in set design including for the film Troy, had several items of sentimental value stolen during the raid.

These included a plane from his grandfather and a pencil case from his wife after they found out about the birth of his son.

“The rest can be replaced but these have sentimental value,” he added.

“When it happened I was in shock.

“It has taken me 23 years to get that many. My livelihood is gone. I felt sorry for the other guys I was working with.

“What gives people the right to take like this.

“The job cannot be delayed. The ice rinks have to be open.

“They have sold tickets to hundreds of people.”

Ben Payne , the man behind Winter Wonderland, said other workmen rallied round to lend tools to Mr Slatter and the attraction was on target to open on time to the public on Friday.

Mr Slatter is currently working at Bluewater Shopping Centre with borrowed and newly-bought tools while he waits for his insurance money.

All the items had the name “Will” sprayed and engraved on them.

Anyone with information or who is offered tools for sale call Colchester police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.