POLICE have traced the owners of a huge stash of antique guns and jewellery, worth at least £10,000, which was stolen from a home in York.

The Press appealed for information earlier this month after officers recovered the haul, which included a 3ft antique musket rifle and a saltwater pearl ring worth at least £2,000, in Acomb.

Detectives have now tracked down the rightful owner of the property - who was on holiday at the time of the burglary.

York Police spokesman Colin Ventress said the stash had been stolen from a house in Inman Terrace, Acomb, some time between July 29 and August 10.

He said: "The owner had been away on holiday.

"The burglary was reported to police when they got home and an officer attended.

"The owner had not seen the story in The Press, but the officers had so they were able to match up the property reported stolen with what had been recovered."

DC Clive Rich, of York CID, told The Press the jewellery alone was believed to be worth at least £10,000.

As well as the rifle and the pearl ring, the stash included three 18 carat gold rings encrusted with diamonds, each worth at least £2,000, an antique Wedgwood necklace and a heart-shaped sapphire and diamond pendant worth at least £1,500.

There were also two boxes of Mulberry Hall bone-handled knives, a silver jewellery box, a gold Longines watch worth at least £300 and two antique pistols of unknown value.

Most of the rings and necklaces were in boxes from Hoppers of York, in Lendal. Police contacted the shop's owners to see if they had any idea who the jewellery might belong to, but were told the boxes were at least 15 or 20 years old.

A man has been charged with handling stolen property and was due to appear at York Magistrates' Court today.