A LAWN care expert has managed to recover some of the tools stolen in a night-time raid on his van.

Patrick Beck, 71, of Tru Green in Chippenham, was left devastated after the theft on Friday, April 5.

Large tools including a lawn aerator and a scarifier worth around £3,500 in total were taken during the raid on his vehicle.

A week later, Mr Beck, of Great Somerford, was told by police the stolen tools had been abandoned in a nearby village.

Mr Beck said: “I would like to thank the couple who found the tools in a field at Lower Seagry. It has saved me £3,500 to replace them.”