A grandfather who has devoted half his life to raising money for charity was left devastated when his van was stolen – from behind a police station.

David Press, of Battlers Green Drive, Radlett, had parked his blue van at the Hotel Ibis car park, in Elstree Way, which is next to Borehamwood Police Station, on Friday while he went to the gym.

But when the 71-year-old decorator returned to the car park less than an hour later, he realised it had gone.

The Mazda E2000, which cost him £12,000 15 years ago and contained a number of tools, without which Mr Press cannot adequately do his job.

He said: “I came out of the gym and I was very confused. I looked around and I thought, it’s just not here.

“I am upset – what’s inside may not have been worth a lot but to me it’s priceless and it’s the principle of the matter.

“I keep going to bed every night and remembering I don’t have my van or my tools anymore. It’s a horrible feeling.”

Every Christmas, Mr Press covers every inch of his home with Christmas lights to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

The decorator is also a well-known face in Radlett and says he is recognised everywhere he goes for his distinctive blue van, which has his name and phone number on the side.

After realising the van had gone, he flagged down some passing police officers who advised him to go home and telephone 101.

And despite a plea on Facebook, there have been no sightings and he is currently deciding whether to claim for the van on insurance as it is now worth roughly £500.

He added: “By the time I got home it was around 4.30pm and by that point, the van could have been at the docks ready to be shipped off.

“I’d just had it cleaned and put a full tank of petrol in which cost £50. I’d always looked after it, it was in an immaculate condition – everyone always told me that.

“It looks so tidy, not sort of van that looks suspicious. I really want it back.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.