THIEVES stole a new shed from a woman s driveway as she attended her mother s funeral. Linda Wood arrived back at her home in Sandridge Road, St Albans, late last Wednesday night to find the delivery note for her new shed but no sign of the actual parts

THIEVES stole a new shed from a woman's driveway as she attended her mother's funeral.

Linda Wood arrived back at her home in Sandridge Road, St Albans, late last Wednesday night to find the delivery note for her new shed but no sign of the actual parts for the structure.

Ms Wood had ordered the 40 square feet shed worth £500 more than two-weeks ago so that bikes belonging to her and her two teenage sons could be stored safely.

And the company from which she made the purchase arranged to leave the flat-pack on her driveway on Wednesday next to her existing bike shed while she was out.

Her next door neighbours saw it being delivered during the day and they said it was still there at 7pm.

Ms Wood, who had been attending her mother's funeral in Trowbridge, Wilts, the day of the theft, said: "I'm very fed up. I went into work on Friday but I had to come home as I was too tearful. It was the last straw in a difficult week.

"The shed was still in sections because it was going to be put up at the weekend. We were looking forward to doing something as a family."

Ms Wood added: "It must have been dark when it was taken. I just can't believe that somebody would do it but they obviously do. It must be an opportunist because nobody knew I was having it delivered."

She urged anyone with information to report to the police and said: "It's quite a busy road so somebody must have seen something. People are walking up and down a lot."

Anyone who can help should contact Det Sgt Jason Finnegan on 0845 3300 222.