A STOLEN sports van worth £12,000 has been found in Clacton.

The red 2011 Ford Transit limited edition was taken in the early hours of Friday August 5 outside Robert Harrelson's house in Station Street, Walton.

Just after 1am, two men turned up and walked past the neighbour’s house and were caught on CCTV.

The men are described as white, wearing shorts. One was balding and the other wore a baseball cap.

The van, which is thought to have been hot-wired, has now been found.

Mr Harrelson said: “The police have recovered the van and it is in the pound now.

“They are doing forensics and will hopefully release the van on Monday.

"I’m not sure of any damage, although apparently they hot-wired it.

"I won't know the true extent until I go on Monday."

Robert believed the specialist nature of his van means it was stolen to order.

Referring to the CCTV footage, Mr Harrelson said: “You can see their faces as clear as anything.

“There was an alarm on the van and am immobiliser. The scariest thing is they got in with a key."

Such a key, he said, may have been bought online, an issue he said is concerning Ford nationally.

The two men were off within six minutes.

Robert also hired a van and spent the weekend driving around Walton and Kirby looking for his own.

Before it was recovered, Mr Harrelson said: “You work so hard for things.

"What right have people to steal it?”