A GRIEVING widow told today how cruel thieves stole £60,000 from her dead husband's safe.

Susan Baker said she was devastated to discover that the cash had been taken from the empty house in Parker Avenue, Chapelfields, where her spouse, David, lived before his death last month.

It is believed the thieves took out a side window at the property and ripped out the safe before escaping with it using a "sack barrow".

The safe was later found in the grounds of nearby Westfield Primary School along with a computer hard drive which was also taken from the house.

Mrs Baker, of Upper Poppleton, who married her husband in a ceremony conducted by his beside just three days before he died, said the money was intended to be used towards the college education of their six-year-old daughter, Rhiannah, and Mrs Baker's other daughter, Charlotte Lalowski, aged 15, and a family holiday.

Mr Baker, 62, ran his successful bus and taxi firm Fairway Travel from the house at Parker Avenue, before succumbing to cancer.

"How can they rob a dead man?" Mrs Baker said.

"That was money David had saved for the future to pay for his daughters' college fees and for us all to go on a luxury family holiday.

"My daughter, Rhiannah, is still trying to get over her daddy's death. She is only six. Whoever did this has deprived the children's chance of a good education.

"I haven't even grieved over David's death yet. I can't believe someone can be so callous to do this."

Family friend Steve Harris, who discovered the break-in while picking up a bus from the house at lunchtime on Friday, said it appeared the thieves had wheeled the safe away.

"I knew David for four years and we did a lot of business together," he said.

"I don't think this was just an opportune break-in. The fact they did it just after he passed away I find astonishing."

Inspector Steve Burns, of York police, said they received an initial report of a safe being found at Westfield school at 8.30am on Friday, and later that it was taken from Parker Avenue along with other items.

"We believe the safe contained about £60,000 but we still have checks to make," he said.

"We are very anxious to speak to the persons concerned who carried out this offence and any witnesses."

Anyone with information about the theft should contact York CID on 0845 60 60 247.

The Press previously reported, pictured, that Mr and Mrs Baker secured a special licence to tie the knot at home, surrounded by family and close friends.

The ceremony was undertaken by the registrar general.

Mr Baker, 62, who was suffering from bowel cancer which had also spread to his lung and liver, was able to sit up in bed and dress in a lounge suit for the occasion.