A GROUP of students working towards their masters degrees have had two years’ worth of work stolen.

Five Essex University students, who live in Antonio Walk, in Colchester, came home to find their home had been trashed over the weekend.

Among the belongings stolen were sentimental jewellery, phones and laptops.

One of the students said: “The laptops have all our work for our masters and current thesis. We have nothing left.

“One is a MacBook Air in a clear and black smashproof case and pink fabric cover, the other is a white HP laptop. There’s lots missing but these items are so important to us.”

The group was returning home at about 11.30pm on Saturday when they noticed the window was smashed.

The victim added: “There were crowbar marks at the entrance and all our belongings were thrown everywhere.

“A lot of jewellery was stolen, and sentimental pieces, including a ring my boyfriend of ten years got me in Russia.”

The whole house was turned upside down, including three bedrooms.

The students, who are all studying to get jobs with the NHS, have been working on their masters degrees for the past two years. All their work was on the laptops.

Anyone with information on the burglary should contact Essex Police on 101.