A builder from Somerset has been left ruing his inability to find cheap van insurance after suffering the theft of thousands of pounds worth of tools from his van.
The 41-year-old explained the effect the tools theft has had on him."It was devastating when I opened the van in the morning to find it was all gone," he said.
"I cannot afford to buy new ones now as they are not insured - tools in van insurance is so high it makes it cost-prohibitive.
"I now have to try to work out how I can get back on my feet quickly - whether I get a loan or ask family members for help.
"The tools are my lifeline and my livelihood and now I face going under - all because of a mindless, thoughtless act.
"It has been a really tough year with the recession and this kind of thing really knocks you for six."
The theft came at just the time that a UK builders van insurance company revealed that many worried commercial vehicle drivers are hoping to buy a new van before the VAT increase comes into effect on January 2011.