WHAT should have been a solemn moment of remembrance for one Alresford family was shattered last week by callous thieves.

Mathew Hole, 24, was tragically killed in a car accident on the A31 three years ago to the day last Wednesday (January 25) and each year since, his family has visited the roadside to lay flowers as a mark of respect.

But this year, the tradition was marred when someone smashed into their car, left 200 yards from the crash site, and grabbed a handbag full of valuables.

"I just could not believe it. I felt very angry and sick," said Matthew's sister, Sarah Strong, 35, describing the moment when she returned to her blue Vauxhall Astra to find that her handbag containing £25 in cash, Next vouchers worth £60 and other keepsakes had been stolen.

Matthew was killed when the car he was driving overturned some two miles east of the Percy Hobbs roundabout as he drove home towards Alresford.

"It is shocking that someone can knowingly take advantage of someone else's grief. I truly believe that they saw what we were doing. How many people stand at the roadside with flowers?"

The family is now calling for anyone who may have seen two cars parked in the little-used farm entrance to come forward to police.

Mother of two, Mrs Strong described how she, her father, Peter Hole, 59, and sister Karen Scott, 37, had driven out to the site in her car on Wednesday morning at around 11am.

The business support manager for the Nationmal Health Service, who lives in Bridge Road, Alresford, described how the three had noticed another blue car pull up near hers as they planted bulbs and laid flowers 200 yards away.

She said they were surprised anyone had stopped as there was "hardly any room" to park.

"We saw what looked like an old lady with white hair. She was standing by a blue car which looked like a small Ford or Fiesta."

Not thinking any more about it, the party returned to find the other car gone, but the front passenger window of the Astra smashed and a rear tyre punctured in nine places.

"Something that we were doing for Matthew, that meant so much to the family, has now been marred," added Ms Strong.

Recalling the brother, she described as a "lovable rogue who could do no wrong", she said: "He would do anything for anyone. He just lived life to the full and had a heart of gold."

Matthew, who went to The Westgate School, in Winchester, was a keen sportsman, particularly cricket, and played for Tichborne village and Hampshire Hog juniors.

* If you have any information regarding the incident please call PC Nigel Harding on 0845 045 45 45.