TWO tins crammed with memories were stolen from the home of a 78-year-old Bolton widow.

The thieves are thought to have reached through a window of the Vernon Street ground floor flat to snatch the metal containers from a sill.

Now the disabled woman is appealing for the return of the tins, which contain a wealth of mementos collected by her late husband while he served in a bomb disposal unit during World War Two.

They contained a collection of uniform stripes, the bomb disposal unit badge, and two medals. There was also a menu from a shop in India, picked up more than 50 years ago during the man's army service, and an empty wallet presented by Cleaneasy Brush Company for 22 years' service.

The tins, with hinged lids, have a pink tint and pictures of teddy bears on the front.

The pensioner's daughter told the BEN: "My mother is extremely upset. The tins did not contain anything of any value, but the contents were priceless to her.

"The thieves probably saw the tins and assumed there was money inside. Now, we are just hoping that they will realise there is nothing of any worth and hand them in."

The theft has been reported to the police, and anyone able to return any of the stolen items should contact Bolton police on 0161 872 5050 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.

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