CARER James Lawler has blasted thieves who stole the motor caravan he uses to give special-needs youngsters a break.

Mr Lawler - pictured with wife Lynne - used the £16,000 Talbot Ex-press 1300D to take the children in his care on short-break holidays.

The vehicle was parked outside his mother-in-law's house in Wern Terrace, Roger-stone, last Thursday morning, for only a couple of hours when it was taken.

All their camping equipment and a new portable TV and video were also inside the vehicle.

Mr Lawler, of Tre-gwillym Road, Roger-stone, said: "I couldn't believe it. It's 23 foot long and it has just gone and nobody saw it go.

"We only picked it up in the second week of January and we only had it a very short time. "We had been looking a long time for it and we have been all around the country looking at vans. "We do work with children with special needs for social services. "When the weather gets better we go away for long weekends. We had one previously but it was not really the right design for sleeping.

"We would go round the country. If we were going on a short break we would go to Brean or Weston-super-Mare. It is away from home but not too far to travel for the kids."

The family have been used by Newport city council to provide respite care for youngsters with special needs for years, and were planning a trip to Cwmcarn last weekend. Mr Lawler doesn't think the thieves would have cared if they knew the home was used to give special-needs children a holiday.

He said: "I'm gutted, it is just disappointing for us and the children. I am losing sleep over it."

Bettws police are investigating the theft. Anyone with information should contact officers on 01633 245210.