A YOUNG racer has been left devastated after thieves smashed into a garage and stole his £2,500 go-kart.

Burglars broke into Aston Bullen’s family’s garage on a Braintree industrial estate and took the machine as well as equipment in the unit including a racing suit and helmet.

In total it is thought the total worth of everything stolen is £4,000.

The 10-year-old’s mother, Sarah Bullen, said her son had been left in tears when he heard the news.

She said it appears crow bars had been used to open the steel shutter at the front of the garage, in Benfield Way.

She explained: “He kept asking what I meant that his go-kart had gone, he didn’t understand.

“Whoever it was that took it would have seen that it was clearly a child’s go-kart - it’s awful, I’m so angry.

“Someone would have been there on Sunday evening and then my husband’s brother arrived at around 7am on Monday and that’s when we found out.

“He told us the garage had been broken into and we asked if the go-kart had gone but you wouldn’t break in and not take it.

“We keep it at the garage because there’s no room for it at home and it’s nice for Aston and his dad to be able to tinker with it together.”

Aston competes at the Rye House track in Hertfordshire where youngsters can get to grips with motorsport.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We are investigating after a burglary in Benfield Way, Braintree.

“Between 7pm on Sunday, May 13, and 7.30am on Monday, May 14, a property was broken into.

“A messy search was conducted and several high-value items, including tools, computers and a children’s go kart were taken.”

Call 101 with information.