A woman whose car was stolen and found burnt out at Anton Lakes has said she is “beyond grateful” after residents and businesses came together to help her.

In the early hours of this morning, February 10, Casey O’Neill’s Seat Mii was stolen from outside her house in Andover. Following an appeal for help in finding it, the car was located at Anton Mills, where it had been set alight and totally destroyed.

The mother of three said that she was “lost for words” following the support she has received, including a fundraiser being set up for her and donations of some of the items destroyed in the blaze.

The car was stolen on Wednesday, February 10 from outside her home in Andover. Inside were car seats for Casey’s children, as well as a buggy and other items. The car was taken by persons unknown, and was located later in the morning in the car park at Anton Lakes.

The car was totally destroyed in the fire, with the heat of the fire having damaged the tarmac underneath. The burnt out shell remained at the site for some time until it was towed away in the afternoon.

Councillor Phil North said that Test Valley Borough Council, which owns the site, was assessing the damage at the car park, and was liaising with police.

Casey said that the incident was like ‘something you hear on the news’, calling those who took her car ‘pure evil’. She said she had “never for a moment believed me and my children would go through something like this ourselves.”

She said: “Me and my children did not deserve this to happen to us. It hurts to think someone could do this so carelessly.”

Following an outpouring of sympathy on social media, Casey’s friend Georgia McNeill established a fundraiser in her name. In a matter of hours, it has already exceeded its £500 target.

Georgia said: “This has happened on a snowy morning, during a national lockdown. The pandemic is hard enough on all of us let alone to have to deal with this on-top of it all.

“To wake up to snow for children is so exciting. But for their mum an awful realisation that she now can’t go anywhere, with no car seats or a buggy she can’t take the children anywhere.

“We are hoping to help by raising some funds to enable her to get some more car seats, a buggy and replace some of the items that were in the car. Every little helps.

“We can’t get her a new car (unfortunately) but we can help make things a little easier for her and the children.”

Further support has been offered to Casey, including car seat company Britax, which has offered to replace all three car seats for free as a show of support.

She said: “I’m so beyond grateful to everyone who has commented, messaged me, donated on a [JustGiving] page which got created and to Britax, who have said they will replace all three car seats.

“I’m honestly lost for words that people have been so supportive to me and my girls.”

To donate to the fundraiser for Casey, you can click here to head to the fundraising page.

Hampshire Constabulary was contacted for comment.