TREASURED heirlooms, antiques and jewels worth thousands of pounds have been stolen from an elderly couple in Trowbridge.

The couple, in their 80s, discovered burglars had looted their Hilperton Road home after returning from a weekend away.

Burglars broke into the house by forcing open a conservatory window and a door leading into the kitchen.

They scoured the house for goods, stealing antiques and jewellery.

Ransacking rooms on the first floor, police believe the burglars used bags to gather up their haul before leaving through the front door.

A Georgian silver cutlery set, an antique carriage clock, a pendulum clock, rings, a pocket watch, cash and a purse were among items taken.

Police believe neighbours could have seen the offenders acting suspiciously over the weekend of the burglary.

PC Jodie Price, based at Trowbridge, said: "Burglaries are always very distressing for the householders, but this is a particularly sad case.

"Treasured possessions have been

stolen from this elderly couple and I appeal

to anyone who may have information about the whereabouts of

the property, or who may have been responsible for this offence, to contact police."

The burglary happened some time between 5pm on July 30 and 3pm on August 3.

l A burglar walked in through an open door and stole £830 of jewellery off the kitchen table at a house in Bradford on Avon.

A five-stone 18-carat gold Victorian diamond dress ring worth £595 and a 15-inch gold chain rope worth £235 were stolen sometime on Friday night from a house in St Laurence Road, when the owner, a woman in her 70s, was out in the garden.

PC Nigel Bullimore described it as an "opportunist" robbery and said: "This is a lesson to people not to go out into the garden leaving their property unlocked."

Anyone with information should contact Bradford police on (01225) 862222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.