THE power of social media came to the rescue for a family who had their £30,000 car stolen in a burglary.

Raiders broke into the family home in Inglesham and ransacked every room before driving off in the Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian they took from outside, having picked up the keys.

But after a Facebook post about the burglary was shared hundreds of times, the car was spotted and returned to its rightful owners.

Most of the Humphreys family were away on holiday in Cyprus but son George was housesitting.

He said: “Having to call your parents who are on vacation to tell them this devastating news is one of the worst feelings.

“You feel like you’ve just ruined their holiday.

“I thought it was a prank when I noticed the car wasn’t on the drive, but when I opened the front door and saw the mess I realised that we had been burgled.

“It felt like I was in a nightmare. Mum’s bags had been emptied, paperwork was spread everywhere. There was not a room that hadn’t been turned over.

“You never think it will happen to your own home.”

George’s auntie decided that she would make the appeal on Facebook to try and find the vehicle, posting a picture of it online and asking for people to tell them if they’d seen it.

And the response they received was incredible with 257 shares.

Within a few hours of the posting and contacting the police, they were told by officers that the number plate had been flagged in Swindon going past the County Ground on August 7 at 8.30pm.

A woman who didn't know the family but who had seen the Facebook post spotted the car parked behind her flat in Moredon where the authorities seized the car.

Mum Claire put up a thank you post online, she said: “By the power of you all sharing this post some lovely lady saw this car parked outside her home and reported it.

“Police called, and vehicle has been recovered.

“Thank goodness thieves are not very clever.”

George told the Adver: “Thank you to everyone who shared the story and helped us find the car that was the silver lining to this, seeing the community come together to help us.

"Even though the odds were against us.”

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “It’s good news that the vehicle has been found thanks to the help of the wider Swindon community.

“We always encourage members of the public to report any sightings of stolen vehicles by contacting us on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”