A FATHER-of-two today condemned the "heartless and unbelievable scum" who stole his family's Christmas presents during a burglary.

Stuart Foster, 38, of Bonsall Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, said the festive period had been ruined as he did not have the money to replace the gifts.

His daughter Kirsty, 14, returned home early from St Bede's High School, on Thursday afternoon to find the house ransacked.

The front door was unlocked. Stuart said his son Joseph, 17, lost his key a few weeks ago and thinks that may be connected to the burglary.

Six presents have been stolen and £500 in cash that was being saved in a wallet to buy more gifts.

Stuart, a forklift truck driver at H and S Joiners, said a PlayStation Two, jewellery, a TV, video, DVD player and discs and surround sound system had also been taken. He added: "I had been saving £100 for the past five weeks and I can't replace that money.

"The police said it is definitely someone who knows . We have worked to save up and it has all gone."

Stuart, whose wife Kathleen is a manager at a branch of fast food chain McDonald's, asked people to be on the lookout for his DVD collection, which he said contained unusual films.

He added: "If anyone knows anything about this I urge them to come forward. The burglars know what to expect at Christmas time. They don't know what is in the presents, they just take them. They are scum."

Blackburn police's burglary team confirmed it was investigating but that it was not believed that burglars had specifically targeted Christmas presents.