A family has given a burglar a stern telling off by posting an angry letter to him around their neighbourhood.

The letter, which has been tied to lampposts in Herne Hill, condemns the burglar as a "coward" and sentences him to a life of "dark days".

The letter reads: "To the coward who burgled our home. The few pounds you make from stealing ours and our children’s hard earned, beloved and sentimental possessions will bring you sadness, misfortune and the dark days you so rightly deserve.

"The love and sentiments attached to the items you took, you will never understand.

"However, our love and our children will bring us to terms with what you have done to our family and are everything you are not and could never be.

"You saw the photographs of our children’s innocent faces and were still able to steal from them. We will never understand the kind of person that makes you. This is our good fortune and the cross you have to bear.

"A hard working young family, Red Post Hill.”

A photo of the letter quickly went viral on the social networking site Twitter, after it was shared by journalist Tom Whitwell, the editorial director of The Times online.

One Twitter user commented: "Terrible happening, beautiful penmanship."