WAR medals belonging to a military veteran have been stolen from a caravan in North Yorkshire.

Thieves stole the treasured heirlooms, as well as jewellery and a collection of valuable notes and coins, from a static caravan at a holiday lodge park, on Minskip Road, in Boroughbridge.

The burglars stole a silver Malaya General Service medal, with a purple and green ribbon attached, two fleur-de-lys brass army badges, two brass army drum badges on red backgrounds, a brass West Yorkshire regiment white horse in gallop badge and an army crossed sword badge in brass on a red background.

They also took: a solid gold gentlemen’s wrist watch with numbers on the light coloured face; a gold plated expandable bracelet; two ladies’ watches with leather straps; a selection of ladies’ badges and brooches from Knaresborough golf club; a pearl necklace; gold oval cuff links with faint diagonal criss-cross lines; 60 Scottish £1 notes; a pink £20 note which is at least 60 years old; 15 to 20 five shilling coins; four commemorative coins in sleeves or presentation boxes and a number of pre-decimal coins including florins and two shilling pieces.

The theft happened sometime between Wednesday and Friday last week, police said today.

Detective Constable Scott Nugent, of Harrogate CID said: “I am appealing to anyone who can assist with recovering these items which hold great sentimental value for the owner.

“Of particular personal value to the victim - a widowed ex-serviceman - is the Malaya General Service medal which, along with the other cherished possessions, he had wanted to hand down to his grandchildren.”

Anyone who can help police is asked to phone 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.