Flood family's caravan home taken

Janet Tasker said her children were upset by the theft of the hamster

A family who were forced out of their home by last year's floods in Hull have suffered again after thieves stole the caravan which was their temporary home.

Janet Tasker, of Anlaby Road, Hull, said the family had lost many of their possessions - including a pet hamster and £500 in Christmas holiday savings.

"We were in a house, then we were living in a caravan and now we're homeless," said a tearful Mrs Tasker.

Up to eight men were involved in the theft on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Officers have urged anyone who knows what happened to the caravan - a white Bessacarr Cameo 625 - to contact Humberside Police.

A force spokesman said six or eight men got out of a van outside the Taskers' home in Anlaby Road and hitched the caravan to a black 4x4 pick-up truck, which then drove off towards Anlaby Common.

It's the fact that somebody has kicked me when I'm down that hurts Janet Tasker, caravan theft victim

Mrs Tasker said she was alerted to the theft by a neighbour as she was doing the washing at a friend's house across the road.

"The caravan's gone with all our possessions in it; my handbag, the house keys, the car keys, the family pet have just gone.

"Obviously my children are really upset because they have lost their hamster.

"I had £500 in Australian dollars for our holiday which we were going on in two weeks.

"I'm not actually bothered about the possessions because you can replace them but you can't replace the family pet and other personal possessions.

"It's the fact that somebody has kicked me when I'm down that hurts.

"I'm already down because of the house, I'm living in these conditions and then they pinch it.

"I'm really bothered that my children will be affected - my son is in his GCSE year and my other son, who's 13, it was his hamster."

She said friends and family had rallied round to help but said nobody from her insurance company or the police had got back to her.

Mrs Tasker urged other victims of the flooding in June 2007 who are still living in caravans to check their security.

"Nothing is safe. If you have Christmas presents or valuables make sure everything is secure."