THIEVES who broke into a home while the family was away for Christmas stole presents and irreplaceable heirlooms.

The family, which does not want to be named, has been left with a feeling that their home in East Kennett, near Marlborough, has been violated.

The father-of-four, a professional man, said: "I am finding it hard to sleep at night and I stay awake listening for the slightest noise."

The parents and children are still not sure exactly what was stolen from under their Christmas tree.

They went away for Christmas planning that upon their return they would open presents from relatives and friends. Instead, they returned to find a pile of wrapping paper and a few presents the thieves had discarded.

Because of the small nature of everything stolen, the father believes the thieves could have been on foot.

The family secured their home in East Kennett on Christmas Eve and intended staying with relatives until the New Year.

They were called back on Christmas Day after neighbours discovered their home had been broken into.

Thieves forced an entry into the detached house between 6.30pm Christmas Eve and 10.30am Christmas Day and made an untidy search of all the rooms.

They took a disc pendant on a gold chain that the father had given his wife on their wedding day and also his wife's engagement ring.

However the item the family will miss most, the father said, was his late mother's gold charm bracelet.

On the heavy gold bracelet with thick links and a heart shaped clasp bracelet were about 15 to 20 gold charms, each representing a family event or anniversary.

The charms included a pair of riding boots, a pair of rugby boots signifying when their son played his first game, a little church, a telephone kiosk and a gypsy caravan.