A BEREAVED mother has spoken of her heartbreak after thieves raided her home and stole a lock of hair taken from her six-year-old son, who died 20 years ago.

Crooks broke into Wendy Ellegard's home in South-bourne Grove, Westcliff, while she was on holiday in France with husband Paul.

The burglars stole more than £20,000 of possessions.

Mrs Ellegard has cherished the lock of hair as a reminder of her son Dean, since he died in August, 1987.

Dean was playing in a friend's garden in Man-chester Drive, Leigh, when he jumped over a fence at the back of the garden and ran into the road.

He was hit by a car and died in an ambulance on the way to Southend Hospital.

Mrs Ellegard broke down in tears as she tried to express her feelings.

Her husband Paul, 51, said: "We are extremely emotional, upset and angry.

"It felt like a personal attack on us because everything we have collected in our 17-year marriage has virtually been wiped out.

"It has also raked up a lot of old memories and feelings.

"My wife kept the hair and a locket containing his school picture in a drawer in our bedroom, which was cleaned out.

"The photograph was irreplaceable, as she did not have a camera in 1987 and there are only a few photos of Dean."

It is thought the thieves used the couple's pillowcases to remove the haul, including Mrs Ellegard's wedding dress, jewellery and limited edition statues, worth up to £3,000 each.

They also grabbed 180 rare smoker's pipes collected by Mr Ellegard's late father and Harley Davidson memorabilia, including a gold ring bearing the word HOG.

Mrs Ellegard, 45, said she is furious at the thieves for wiping out everything the couple held dear.

"I don't even want the cabinets in our living room anymore, because they are empty," she said.

"It is just a sick reminder of what has happened and what we have lost."

Anyone with any information about the break-in, which happened between Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29, should call investigating officer Det Con Tanya Bailey on 0300 3334444, or Crime-stoppers on 0800 555 111.