A CRIME-FIGHTING councillor said he felt 'sick' when told that burglars had raided his home.

Filly Maravala, who has led campaigns to improve community safety in Redbridge, was on holiday in India when his son contacted him to tell him his house had been broken into.

The Loxford ward councillor's laptop, chequebooks, credit cards and brief cases were taken during the raid, in Mortlake Road, Ilford on Tuesday December 22.

He said: "I felt nauseous, sick when my son told me what had happened.

"They broke through the front door using a crowbar.

"I'm particularly sad about losing the briefcases because they contained treasured photographs. Some of them were of my children when they were young.

"I'm having £2,000 worth of new doors fitted tomorrow on police advice."

Cllr Maravala said no council documents on the laptop could be accessed by the burglars.

Anyone with information about the burglary, which took place between 4pm and 6pm, should call Ilford police station on: 8478 1123.