A builder has been left struggling  to work after thieves ransacked his  van and stole the irreplaceable tools  he has had for more than 30 years.

Mark Sollars, who works for himself,  had parked his van outside Total Fitness  in Chester for an hour and a half on  Monday night while he used the gym as  part of his usual routine.

Although he noticed nothing untoward  at first, a couple of hours later when he  tried to open the passenger door to give  his girlfriend a lift home, he realised the  door was stuck and had been tampered  with.

On closer inspection, Mark discovered  that although items such as his chequebook and sat-nav system were still there,  the back of the van had been emptied,  with the box containing all his vital  tools,which he had hand-made himself,  missing.

Also taken were a new electric saw, a  cordless electric drill and a drill box.

But Mark, from Mickle Trafford, said he  is less concerned about these items, which  can be easily replaced, and is just desperate to locate his tool box, which he says  has ‘huge sentimental value’ to him.

“I’ve got nothing left – it is a total  inconvenience,” he said.

“I need to find that tool box, I’ve had  those tools for more than 30 years,  they’re handmade and very specific. You  can’t replace them anywhere.

“It annoys me more that they probably  wouldn’t be any use to anyone except me  and I just want them back.

“I wouldn’t have minded them just  taking the electrical items, that doesn’t  bother me.”

He added: “I’m struggling to work  without my tools, luckily this week I’ve  only needed to use a shovel for work  and  I’ve been able to get by by borrowing stuff  but it’s not easy.

“Even when my insurance comes  through it won’t cover the stuff I’ve  lost.”

Mark’s toolbox is a 2ft black Stanley  plastic box, 4 inches wide with an aluminium strip on top. If you find it, call  Mark on 07979 915808.