A COUPLE have spoken of their devastation after their home was burgled while they were at a hospital appointment.

More than £10,000-worth of items were stolen from Ann and Henry Radford's home on Foxwood Lane on May 1 between 11.45am and 3.15pm.

Thieves used tools to remove a safe from the couples home, containing items of sentimental value including jewellery from anniversaries, watches, bracelets, rings and items of “major sentimental value” inherited from Ann's mother.

Ann, 60, said: “It has been more than a nightmare.

“It’s not just what they took, it’s the fact that they have been in our home. We have worked all our lives for every single thing we have got. It’s an appalling thing to do.These people just have no idea how devastating it has been and it has cost me an absolute fortune to change the locks and get things fixed."

Henry, 78, had been seriously ill for the past six weeks and the couple were attending an appointment at Malton Hospital while thieves raided their home.

Ann said: “I came in and stuff was thrown all over the floor. There was a spade on my sofa that they had used. There was glass everywhere.

“I do believe someone was watching, it was the one and only time the house had been left unattended. I'm really angry about it."

She is now offering a £500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and charge of the suspects.

The culprits are believed to have left through the front door with the items wrapped in a black and white zebra print blanket.

Anyone with information should call 101 and ask for PC 445 Saggers or email 000445@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference number 12180075037. Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.