A family's Christmas nightmare was turned into a heartwarming tale of goodwill thanks to the people of Walthamstow.

On Monday (December 17) Victoria Dove, her husband Chris Walker and their children Ned and Sid returned to their home in Harris Street following a trip to Santa's grotto.

As rain lashed down they ran inside, leaving a stack of Christmas cards in the front and a sack of presents in the boot.

Mrs Dove returned to the car the following morning to discover its contents strewn across the seats and both cards and presents gone.

Along with a wooden train set, clothes and pyjamas, a jar of homemade jam traditionally enjoyed by the Dove-Walkers each year was taken.

With the family's insurance policy only able to pay out £150 in compensation, the 39-year-old PR worker took to social media to vent her frustrations.

She said: "After that I started getting a lot of messages from friends saying 'this is awful'. Then people started contacting me asking if they could buy presents.

"We said 'no no no we have a big family, the kids will barely notice."

Undeterred by their refusal, a group of friends donated money and gave the family several hundred pounds.

They used the money to replace the presents for Sid, three-years-old, and Ned, five-months-old, before donating the rest to Stonewall and Salvation Army.

As presents continue to arrive for the children in the post, Mrs Dove and her husband have been taking them to Walthamstow's Salvation Army where they are re-gifted to other young people.

Mrs Dove added: "It has been really lovely. I went from thinking 'everything is wrong' to thinking 'oh my gosh I have the nicest friends and family in the world.'

"Walthamstow is such a welcoming place. There is such a sense of community acceptance.

"It is an example of the people of Walthamstow saving the day."

As for the person that stole the presents, Mrs Dove does not wish them ill.

She said: "Whoever has done this must have been so desperate. Hopefully the presents have gone to their family.

"I hope whoever has taken them has a really nice Christmas."