A distraught grandmother today urged burglars to return an antique engagement ring which had been in her family for almost a century.

The heirloom originally belonged to Ann Pittman's grandmother and had been passed from mother to daughter through the last 80 years.

But the link was broken by burglars who ransacked the family home as Mrs Pittman, 62, visited her mother's grave on Mother's Day.

More than 100 CDs, a video, stereo, camera and jewellery were also stolen from the Langdon Hills home.

The ring, encrusted with two diamonds and a sapphire, was worth about £600 but the cash value is irrelevant to the family.

It was given to Mrs Pittman's grandmother in the 1920s and passed on to her daughter Winifred in 1937.

Four years ago the ring ended up with Mrs Pittman after the death of her mother.

Mrs Pittman, of the Firmans, said: "I feel so sad. My mother had kept the ring safe from the age of 25 until she died aged 84 - before that it was her mother's. She had it for so long and I feel responsible for what happened.

"I just wish whoever took would return it."

Among the £3,000 haul was a Royal Dalton bust of Winston Churchill. Mrs Pittman said: "I was a war child and Winston Churchill was a real hero of mine."

This was the fourth time the family have been targeted by burglars in ten years.

Mrs Pittman said: "It makes me feel sick. Because we live in a nice house people seem to think it does not matter."

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