McLaren Formula 1 driver Jenson Button has spoken out for the first time after he and wife Jessica were robbed while they slept in their St Tropez villa.

The former world champion and his partner were gassed before thieves swiped around £300,000 worth of items, including Jessica's £250,000 engagement ring.

While Button has admitted that the incident, which occurred earlier this month, is worrying, the 35-year-old has insisted that he and his wife are well.

"It's scary stuff," Button told The Mirror. "It's not nice knowing someone was in your room going through your drawers eight centimetres from your wife's head.

"We are all here, safe and well, but it's amazing that we did not realise it was happening. You never want anyone in your house that you haven't invited, especially when you are asleep."

Button is currently preparing for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.