Customers have raised over £3,000 in three days after a popular delivery driver had his state-of-the-art van stolen from right under his nose.

Kyle Evans, 26, began delivering Evri packages to Gerrards Cross and the Chalfonts three years ago, motivated by a sense of community service and desire for financial stability.

The courier, who lives in Bicester with his family, has since become a familiar face to many in Buckinghamshire – with regular customers praising his “hard-working” and sunny disposition and buying him presents each Christmas.

The self-motivated youngster, who works seven days a week, invested thousands into a brand-new delivery van this summer and was already making the most of its capacity to further extend his rounds when, tragically, the “pride and joy” was stolen last week.

Kyle left the engine running while he jumped out to drop off a package on Fulmer Road in Gerrards Cross on Friday, October 18 – and when he turned back around, the vehicle had disappeared.

The van before it was stolen (Image: Lucy Denise)

Despite chasing it up the road through the slow-moving traffic, he eventually lost sight of it and his enthusiasm for providing locals with cards and packages of all sizes waned as a result.

In an effort to boost his morale, Kyle’s mum Lucy and little brother Joseph launched a GoFundMe page with a goal of £10,000 to cover the cost of the van and the various possessions and money he’d left inside.

After sharing it with Buckinghamshire-based groups and communities, the fundraiser has climbed to over £3,000 in just three days – and the 26-year-old’s motivation is on the re-ascent as a result.

Kyle Evans (Image: Lucy Denise)

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Lucy said: “It was all a bit devastating – he was so pleased and so proud after getting the new van in summer, just in time for the peak Christmas season.

“Anyone who knows Kyle would agree that no one works harder than he does. When he’s not working, he’s studying or reading, and he’s coached children in things like football and at forest schools.

“He has such a drive and ambition, which makes me incredibly proud. Seeing him low because of this has been difficult but the comments from people he delivers to have been so supportive and kind, which is the best thing you can see as a parent.”

Kyle (in white) with mum Lucy, sister Stephanie and brothers Joseph and Nathan (Image: Lucy Denise)

Because the van was still running when it was stolen, Lucy said her son won’t be able to claim it back on insurance – something he’s taken in his stride, but she thinks he’s being too hard on himself about.

“He’s said, ‘Oh well, it’s my lesson to learn’, but we wanted to help in some way and it’s great that people outside our family want to do the same.

“He’d never want to be the victim, but I know that he’s looking over his shoulder a bit more now and is acting more wary generally. It would be lovely to turn this really sad thing into a positive story of people coming together to do something nice for a young lad who gives so much of his time to them.”

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: "We received a report of a theft of a motor vehicle on 18 October in Fulmer Road.

"This report has been filed pending further information coming to light. We would ask if anyone does have information they call 101 quoting reference  43240502550.”

Click here to visit the GoFundMe page.