MORE than £1,000 has been raised for a family who had their Christmas Day stolen from them.

Charlotte Warren-Sparling and her partner Jamie were looking forward to Christmas with their three sons. Their youngest, Ethan, who is 18 months old, has been in on a ventilator in Great Ormond Street Hospital with respiratory problems.

The family had just been reunited at their home in Greenstead when a callous thief broke into their shed and stole all the children’s Christmas presents the day before Christmas Eve.

The thief had burst the door open at about 11pm on December 23 and stole everything before it had been wrapped, including the boys’ Christmas Eve pyjamas.

Charlotte praised her other sons, Jack 10, and Thomas, seven, for their attitude towards the whole incident.

Baby Ethan was born prematurely and has ongoing health problems, but his two older brothers are just glad to have him home.

She said: “It was awful and seeing their faces drop after having their stockings. I’m so lucky they have been so mature. They cried, stopped and said ‘at least our family is together and back in Colchester.’”

The shed was locked and secure, but the thieves still managed to break in. After hearing what happened friends set up a fundraising page so they could have another Christmas.

The target was £400, but a total of £1,020 has been raised.

Charlotte said: “The fundraising target has tripled already, we will be donating some of the money to charity to give back to others, not because we are ungrateful but because we are not greedy and think others deserve help too.

“We have made the best out of an awful situation but our best news is our special little boy is home for our second Christmas Day.”

Staff at the Harwich Foodbank went to see the couple and their children and they were nominated for a competition run by Go Bananas which gives away a festive food shop for those in need.

They now have a complete Christmas meal and a bundle of presents.

Charlotte said: “My manager Joanna Fletcher went out shopping replacing items. She is amazing as is her five-year-old son Harry who is in on the plans. If it wasn’t for her, the foodbank and Go Bananas play centre we wouldn’t have any of this.

“Between Go Bananas and the foodbank we have food and drink for a perfect Christmas.”