A family from Royston who took part in this year’s Stevenage Race for Life were “devastated” when they returned to their car to find it had been broken into.

Lisa Saggs had taken on the 5k run at Fairlands Valley Park for the first time – alongside her daughter Kellie-Jay, 13, sister-in-law, niece, and mum – in memory of her younger brother Tony, who died of a brain tumour.

After parking and leaving the car at about 10.45am, they all completed the race – wearing pink T-shirts with tributes to Tony emblazoned across the back.

Lisa said: “We were chatting to people on the walk, it was brilliant.

“We felt fantastic even though it was boiling hot. At the end they gave us medals and some water before we went back to the car.”

It was then that Lisa – who lived in Royston for 10 years before moving to Htchin seven months ago – saw that one of the windows had been smashed.

She said: “I thought someone had knocked my wing mirror so looked at the next car because I was worried the same thing had happened to it.

“I didn’t think someone would break in, because it was such a special day. But the whole back window had come out and had shattered in the car.

“I was absolutely devastated – it still makes me cry thinking about it. It’s awful that it could happen in a place where there’s such good people around.

“Everyone was very upset and it put a damper on the day, when we all wanted it to be about Tony. He was my little brother who was in his 40s and was healthy as anything two years ago. Then he collapsed one day and they found he had a brain tumour.

“They cut it out and he went through treatment, but it just got more aggressive over two years – he died in October last year.

“I was emotional when I got to Fairlands so maybe I left my handbag on show and they took it. I called the police that afternoon, but I didn’t think to ask if anyone else has fallen victim to this.

“Everybody at the race was there for a reason, and someone took advantage – stealing money off people who are doing good. It’s just so horrible.”

Police are investigating the incident – which happened between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Sunday, July 8, when the car was parked in the field of Fairlands Valley Park.

Anyone with any information should contact Herts police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference 41/15561/18.