WHEN toys and furniture were swiped from her garage, mum Allison Lock assumed she was the victim of thieves.

But the Advertiser can reveal the garage was hit not by crooks but by Swindon Council workers who cleared out the wrong unit.

The embarrassing blunder has devastated Mrs Lock's four children, who were storing bikes, scooters and toys in the lock-up while their house was being decorated.

Also taken were bags of new clothing intended for a school in Gambia.

In all, Mrs Lock, 42, of Cypress Grove, Pinehurst, fears she has lost possessions worth £1,000 stored in the council-owned garage.

"I was decorating the children's bedrooms and had asked them to put their toys and bedroom furniture in the garage," she said.

"The council has no right to do this they have broken into my property and stolen my possessions."

Mrs Lock has rented the unit in Mulberry Grove for four years. She pays the council nearly £5 a week by direct debit.

"I can't understand why this has happened. The direct debits have all been paid," she said.

Mrs Lock's suspicions were aroused when a neighbour said he had seen council staff emptying a garage.

The Advertiser put this to the council, which admitted there had been an error although, as reported in yesterday's paper, officials originally denied any blame.

The family discovered the garage was empty on Monday after firemen tackling a blaze in a neighbouring unit forced the door.

Despite the setback, Mrs Lock and the children Josh, three, Asa, 10, Aisha, 13, and Hannah, 14, are determined to enjoy a holiday to Gambia in two weeks time.

During the trip, they will deliver gifts to a school in Serrekunda, with which Mrs Lock has ties.

Although the clothing was taken, they have also collected 400 McDonald's Happy Meal toys which were stored at home.

Council officials are investigating the blunder. John Short, the director of Swindon Services, said: "We can confirm the garage has been cleared by Swindon Council Swindon Services are now carrying out an investigation and will resolve the situation with the tenants as soon as possible."

Tamash Lal