A PLUCKY widow is showing the blitz spirit after crooks stole her RAF hero husband’s prized model warplanes in a raid on her house.

Cecelia Wyatt, 84, was devastated when she discovered burglars had escaped with a valuable collection of Second World War aircraft after breaking into her Clacton home.

Her late husband George, who died two years ago, had started collecting the models as a hobby after serving in the RAF.

He was a rear gunner on an Avro Lancaster during the war.

George’s collection included the legendary RAF bomber as well as a Spitfire and Hurricane, which won the Battle of Britain 70 years ago.

His replica racing cars and steam engines were also among the crooks’ loot.

Luckily, George had passed on his war medals to his son so they weren’t among the haul.

The break-in took place while Cecelia was asleep upstairs.

The raiders also got away with stereo and gardening equipment, but Cecelia said: “It’s the things my husband had collected that upset me most, because they can’t be replaced.

“People say you shouldn’t get sentimental, but you can’t help it. I didn’t know whether to scream or cry. I just couldn’t believe it and that evening I cried myself to sleep. Now it’s a bit worrying every time I go to bed.”

The burglars took her mobile phone and £20 worth of fish.

“It’s annoying because you work all your life for these things and they just want to grab them for nothing,” said Cecelia.

“They’ll probably only sell them and spend the money on booze or drugs. I can’t understand people these days.”

But the retired shopworker is determined not to be beaten.

“You’ve got to have the blitz spirit,” she said defiantly.

“I was in the Women’s Land Army during the war. I left home at 17 and I think that’s what toughened me up. I won’t give them the pleasure of thinking they’ve beaten me.”

Anyone with any information, should contact Clacton police on 0300 3334444.