A Harold Wood dad has spoken of his anger after the burger van he set up as his son’s first business was stolen.

The catering trailer, worth thousands of pounds, was taken from the Essex Timber Buildings site on the London-bound A127 at Cranham.

Now Kevin Siequien, of Recreation Avenue, is offering a reward for information leading to its return.

“I can’t afford to replace it,” he said. “I set it up for my son.”

Mr Siequien, 50, said he had wanted to help his son Cameron, 17, earn some extra cash while studying plumbing at college.

“He worked it three days a week and I did the other two,” he said. “We ran it about 10 weeks and now it’s been stolen and he’s got nothing.”

Mr Siequien, who fits double glazing, said he had spent about �300 on fuel driving around looking for the red, white and blue striped trailer, which is emblazoned with the word “Munchies”.

“I can’t get it out of my head,” he said. “It’s a big thing, starting up a business for your son. I put 12 weeks into getting it going.

“My son’s gutted.”

Mr Siequien added the van, which was taken in the early hours of Sunday, December 23, had been securely stored when he left it.

“On Sunday morning we went down the A127 to check on the van,” he said. “I saw the van was gone so we pulled over, and I discovered all the locks were on the floor. The wheel clamps and the tow bar clamp had been cut.

“All the locks on the main gate were cut open.”

He added the van was capable of generating a �400 profit each week, and that the family’s income had taken a knock “big time” as a result of the theft.

If you have any information about the incident, call Havering police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.