A HEARTFELT thank you gesture from a young cancer sufferer to the hospitals which have treated her was ruined when burglars broke into her family home and stole the presents.

A HEARTFELT thank you gesture from a young cancer sufferer to the hospitals which have treated her was ruined when burglars broke into her family home and stole the presents.

Emma O'Hagan, 10, had received chemotherapy at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and care at Colchester General children's ward.

The youngster, of St Catherine's Close in Colchester, successfully completed her course of treatment for Ewings Sarcoma, which affects children, and is now hoping for the all clear.

Together with her parents, Terry and Erica, the family recently decided to head to France to buy sparkling wine as a thank you to all those involved during her illness.

But yesterday morning, they awoke to discover burglars had broken into their garage and stolen a case of alcohol, which was to be presented later this year when Emma had a check-up.

Mrs O'Hagan, 39, an intelligence assistant for Colchester police, said it had been a shock when they discovered the theft.

She said: "I would really have been upset because of what it was for, but because of Emma's illness my attitude has changed.

"The people that did it are just scumbags. I hope they feel bad."

She added the burglars may have been disturbed by someone because more cases of wine were left outside the garage.

"Emma has to go to Colchester and up to Addenbrooke's in November, so that would have been the perfect chance to give the presents.

"She was not too upset with it all, she was just really interested in the police being there at the house," she said.

Anyone with information about the crime should contact Colchester police on 01206 762212.