WIDOW Fiona Williams was left devastated when she returned home to find jewellery with huge sentimental value had been stolen from her bedroom after it was ransacked.

Mrs Williams, 54, of Matilda Way, Devizes lost her husband Chris to a brain tumour nine years ago and she cherished pieces of jewellery that had belonged to him and gifts he had given her.

She is now appealing to anyone who may be be offered jewellery for sale in suspicious circumstances to come forward and has also asked the burglars themselves to show compassion.

She said: "If they have any feelings at all I would ask them to return items such as my engagement ring and Chris' wedding ring. They hold a lot of special memories and I cherished them."

She is also upset that her beloved cat Ellie, who she re-homed two months ago, was traumatised by the burglary. She realised there was something wrong when she returned home on October 26 after attending a funeral in the Midlands.

She was unable to open her front door and eventually had to call a locksmith. Earlier her friend had been unable to get in when she tried to call round to feed the cat.

Mrs Williams said: "At first I didn't think anything was wrong then I noticed the back door was open. When I went upstairs there was a terrible mess where they had ransacked the bedroom.

"Poor Ellie was really upset by what had happened. In addition to the jewellery they took £300 in cash that had been my dad's and we had found when we cleared out his home after he died. It is in Scottish bank notes.

"But I don't care about the money the burglars can keep that. I just want the special pieces of jewellery."

She has taken a list of all the jewellery and pictures of similar pieces to as many shops as possible where the thieves might try and sell them. She said: "I am doing everything I can to get them back."

Mrs Williams and her late husband were both in the RAF and moved to Wiltshire when he was stationed at Boscombe Down. She now works as a civilian for Wiltshire Police.

Wiltshire police are appealing for witnesses and PC Jay Greenland said: “Incidents like this are understandably upsetting for the victims and I’d like to reassure residents that we are doing all we can to locate the offenders.

"As part of our enquiries we’d like to hear from anyone who may have noticed anyone acting suspiciously in the area or anyone who saw any suspicious vehicles in the area between 8am and 7pm on 26 October. "

The items taken were:

1. Gold coloured engagement ring, with oval emerald (centre) and two square diamonds (either side). From Crouch Jewellers, Bury St Edmunds.

2. Gold coloured eternity ring, with 7 small emeralds on a ‘stacked’ gold setting. From Israel Jewellery Exchange, Tel Aviv.

3. Gold coloured male wedding ring, 18 carat gold, adapted with a ‘criss-cross basket’ setting of 2 diamonds and 2 garnets diagonally set in a square of 9 carat gold. Engraved with “Chris, Ruth 1;13, Fee”. Adapted by Watlings of Lacock. Engraved with “Chris, Ruth 1:13, Fee”. Also taken was the leftover thin gold band, possibly with a 1920s hallmark.

4. Oval opal with small diamond surround set in gold coloured metal stud earrings . From Mallory of Bath. See photo below

5. Gold coloured necklace, with a 4 cm ‘V’ of emeralds. From Israel Jewellery Exchange, Tel Aviv.

6. Breitling watch, Starliner ladies, silver coloured link bracelet with blue mother of pearl face and diamonds (either on all numbers or on the quarters). Watch number 1038905.

7. Gold coloured plain cross, indent cut (approx. 4cm) on gold coloured chain 32cm long.

8. Gold coloured rope chain 32 cm long.

9. Small dark green jade ‘barrel’ approx. 1cm long x 50mm deep, hand carved, with gold ring around each end.

10. Gold coloured, lever backed earrings with square Russian Diopside (green) stones.

11. Seiko watch, ladies, gold coloured link bracelet with gold face. May have serial number.

12. Silver coloured chain, heavy, short.

13. Spitfire mens watch, silver coloured bracelet. From Bradford Exchange.

14. Brown amber ‘grape cluster earrings, set in silver.

15. Also taken was a black and coloured patterned Chinese silk jewellery roll. Other property that was stolen is less expensive, although of sentimental value, including brooches.