A FAMILY grieving for their seven-year-old is devastated by the destruction of his belongings.

Laughlin Whiteley, known as Lockey, passed away two years ago after a fight against leukaemia.

His parents, Andrea Poyser and John Whiteley, decided to make a new start by moving from Burnham to Norfolk with their six-year-old son Gus and new-born daughter, Eliza.

As they settled into their new home they discovered the removal company transporting their belongings had closed down and had left them in a lock up in Southend.

After three days of chasing, Andrea and John found a former employee of the company who was able to access the lock up and deliver some of their possessions. However, they were dismayed to find many of the cardboard boxes were ripped open and items were carelessly thrown around inside.

Andrea said: “The most awful thing was that Laughlin’s belongings had been searched through.

“The Lego models which he’d spent hours making while having treatment for leukaemia in hospital had been absolutely destroyed and thrown in the back in the boxes.

“These boxes were full of our memories of him. We are in utter despair, and can’t believe someone has gone through all og his stuff and just abandoned it. It makes me feel sick.”

The family is still waiting for some belongings.

A GoFundMe page set up by Joanna Jeffery to help with the loss has raised more than £3,000 in its first two days.

Joanna said the response shows what Andrea and her family meant to the community.

She said: “This lady has worked tirelessly for the community in the past and I think that everybody recognised that and wanted to help.

“I think everyone thought that although they might not be able to give a lot they could at least give something.

“We are overwhelmed daily by all the evilness in the world but I think the way people have got behind this page restores some faith.”

Visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com and search for Steven Jeffery to donate.

An Essex Police spokesman said a man, 47, from Southend, had been arrested on suspicion of burglary and later bailed until October.

The removal company could not be reached for comment.