HE spent years collecting what were his prized possessions, but in just one night thieves destroyed Hayden Williams' toy collection leaving him heartbroken.

The toy enthusiast, who built up a £5,000 collection over seven years, has now offered a reward for any information on his batch, which include many rare collectors' items.

Thieves broke into Mr Williams' garage in Harpenden earlier this month.

He said: "I am gutted. It is an unusual hobby, but I have put so much time and effort into it. It did not sink in for a couple of days - then I realised how much I had lost.

"It is worth a lot of money, but the collection also has sentimental value."

About 500 toys, including Star Wars figures and model kits from brands such as Zoids, He-Man and Starcom, were taken from the 26-year-old banking analyst's garage near his flat on the night of May 11.

A distraught Mr Hayden, whose grandfather had died that very night, discovered the next morning most of his precious collection had gone.

Although he sometimes sells to other enthusiasts, and was hoping the collection would rise in value in the long-term, his collection was a hobby rather than a business or an investment.

He says the true value of the toys would not be appreciated by a non-collector, and fears they will be sold on the black market for a fraction of their worth.