A HANDYMAN was driven at by a thug who just moments earlier had stolen his van.

Mark Atkinson, 54, was forced to sprint out of the way after the thief turned the distinctive orange Ford Transit around and hurtled towards him.

The grandfather-of-two said his livelihood had been 'shattered' after the vehicle was later found burnt out in Accrington - minus £7,000 worth of tools.

He was working at the home of a customer for his landscape gardening and maintenance firm, Maintain-It, when the parked van was taken from Blackburn Road, Darwen.

Chainsaws, forks, strimmers, a full mechanics' toolbox, oils and blowers were among the stolen items.

The thief also took £800 in cash that Mr Atkinson had made from jobs that day, and presents he had bought for his grandchildren.

It was the second van to be stolen from the town that day.

Mr Atkinson said: "All my tools have been taken. Everything I own for work. I chased it as far as I could but then the guy started driving at me.

"He was trying to knock me down outside Lidl in Darwen. For some reason he turned the van round towards me and I got a good look at him. My entire livelihood was in that van. That has been shattered."

The van, registration number VK03 UKY, was found on fire in Spring Hill Road, Accrington, two hours later.

Mr Atkinson's bank cards, a jacket for his son and an Angry Birds Star Wars game for his grandchildren are also thought to have been stolen before it was torched.

He said: "For the lowlifes that did this - I will not let scum like you drag me under. It took 10 years of my life to grow and establish my business."

He added that the tools and van would be replaced but he was upset the items for his children and grandchildren had been taken.

The thief is described as white, of heavy build with dark brown curly hair and wearing a grubby white t-shirt.

Mr Atkinson, who is president of Darwen Spartans Junior Football Club regularly with the Football Gambia charity to help underprivileged children in the African country, said: "My iPhone was found chucked out of the window near the The Blackamoor Inn, in Blackburn, so these tools must have been unloaded locally.

"Another van was stolen in Darwen on the same day and found in Bromley Cross so I don't know if there is gang going round doing this or what."

Mr Atkinson, who has three children and lives in Darwen with his wife, Alison, said most of the equipment had unique markings, which meant items could be traced.

He pleaded with East Lancashire tradespeople to keep an eye out for stolen goods which may be for sale.

Labour Cllr Eileen Entwistle, who represents Sudell, said: "I'm really sorry to hear about this because Mark does so much for the community both here and in Gambia. I think this is really bad.

"He depends on that van to make a living and I'm really concerned about these sort of incidents. We've also seen sheds and garages broken into for the same sort of goods.

"Clearly there is a market for them or else no-one would steal them. I would urge anyone offered these items to report the seller to police."

Crews from Hyndburn fire station were called at 4.30pm on Tuesday in order to put out the van fire.

Lancashire police said they were investigating the theft and urged business owners to make sure their premises and vehicles were locked at all times when not in use.

Mr Atkinson's van was unlocked at the time, but he said the keys were not left inside.