A FAMILY has issued an emotional appeal for the return of ashes stolen from a garden in Essex last night.

James Hore

A FAMILY has issued an emotional appeal for the return of ashes stolen from a garden in Essex last night.

June Paterson, of Swan Close, in Colchester woke this morning to discover a sundial and column containing the ashes of her brother, Raymond Darling, had been stolen.

The commemorative sundial has a brass plaque on with Mr Darling's name and the date he died - September 2006.

Mrs Paterson, 73, has been left devastated by the theft and the family is appealing for the thieves to return the ashes.

Her son, Tony Paterson, said: “She woke up to find this and is devastated.

“They were brother and sister but had never been apart all their lives and he was my uncle but brought me up like he was my dad.

“We are not bothered about the sundial - we are only interested in getting the ashes back.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Colchester police station on 0300 333 4444 or call Mr Paterson on 07801 061886.