A couple's livelihood is under threat after thieves stole £20,000 worth of pet stock and equipment from their Swindon warehouse.

Laura Sloper and her partner Kevin McCarthy, who own Macs Pets, were left distraught when their warehouse, at Westmead Industrial Estate, was ransacked overnight on July 16.

The culprits are believed to have used a concrete slab from a nearby estate to bash through the steel plated door to get into the warehouse.

Once inside they stole the business van, which was loaded with about £8,000 worth of stock, tools valued at £6,000 and £5,000 worth of kit, including a generator. They did leave behind a laptop and a router.

The couple run regular stalls at markets in Marlborough and said that the business is now on the line.

Laura said: “It’s despicable. We work six days a week and someone comes along and takes your livelihood. It’s all gone. I’m absolutely devastated – just devastated.”

The alarm was raised on the morning of July 16 when part-time employee Lee Elliott arrived at the warehouse to discover that a white Ford transit van was missing.

Laura said the van was full of stock, including dog and cat food, leads, collars and toys, as well as the kit needed to set up the stall.

Since the incident, the pair have been scouring internet sites, including Facebook and eBay, to see if the stolen goods have been put up for sale.

Kevin and Laura set up Macs Pets in 2010, when they opened a shop in Cricklade Road. It closed six months ago to allow them to focus on the market business.

The warehouse is also the business HQ for their other business, Macs Handmade Punchbar Cage Fronts, which produces custom-made punch bar and cage fronts for exhibitors and breeders of aviary birds.

Police want to speak to anyone in the Axis Business Centre area between 5pm on July 15 and 5am on July 16. Anyone with information is asked to call DC 1583 Lewis on 101 extension 760632.