A caravan was stolen from a property in broad daylight, and thieves were captured on CCTV forcing it out of the property.

Lesley Ainsley had recently bought the vehicle to stay in while her house underwent renovations.

But the woman who normally works from home was out on Tuesday afternoon, and her partner Darren who works as a driving instructor was passing their home with a client when he realised the gates were open.

When the pair examined CCTV it showed the terrifying sight three men forcing the van out of their home in Royton, near Oldham, and then making off with it.

Mrs Ainsley described her horror at finding out what had happened at her home.

She said: “My husband realised the back gate was open so he made the girl stop, and turn around and come back, he then rang the police when he realised the caravan has gone.

“It is terrifying that this has happened in broad daylight.”

The 59-year-old, who works in holistic therapy and assesses therapy diplomas, said: “I had been in most days, I normally work from home.

“It was the first afternoon I had been out in a week, if I had seen them coming I would have rang the police.

“People are saying they must have watched our house.

“You just don’t know what has happened.

“It is just sickening, I never would have thought they would have taken something so big.”

Since posting about the theft on social media Mrs Ainsley has been contacted by the nearby Pleasant Inn on Royton Road whose owners said the thieves drove past it in the vehicle.

Other reports have said it was seen heading towards Stockport at 3pm that day.

Another individual from Atherton has contacted her to reveal he was the victim of a similar theft recently.

The woman said they had bought the caravan for a discounted £12,000 from a friend but they are being sold for closer to £16,000 as demand is rising as the end of restrictions from Covid approaches.

Mrs Ainsley said it had taken an hour to get it into the garden because of the limited space available.

She added: “They must have scratched it getting out.

“We have lived here for three years.

“It is definitely out of character for the area.”

Greater Manchester Police has been contacted in relation to this incident.