A COUPLE have been left devastated after a bench lovingly-restored and placed outside their home was snatched by thieves.

Doug Mockridge, 74, bought the bench (pictured) from a jumble sale before spending weeks restoring every part of it from the panelling to the screws.

Doug, who designs props for Colchester’s Headgate Theatre, reported the bench missing from outside the home which he shares with his wife, Gill on Friday, July 16.

The bench was stolen from the St Mary’s Fields estate in Colchester.

Gill said: “We came out that morning and thought ‘Where’s the bench?’. I couldn’t believe it, we were gutted.

“It’s a horrible thing to do.”

Anyone with information about the stolen bench can call Essex Police on 101 quoting crime reference number 42/140264/21.