Gold watch stolen from coffin top

Gold watch stolen from coffin top

A grieving family are appealing for the return of a watch that was stolen from the top of a coffin as it lay in Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire.

Dennis Delve's family had put it there so it could be presented to one of his grandchildren during the service.

But before the war veteran's funeral started on Tuesday family members were told the watch had been taken.

Mr Delve's wife, Joan, said the family was "devastated". The theft of the watch has been reported to police.

Mrs Delve said: "Just before the funeral procession was due to start the vicar Paul Williams came down and said to me the watch wasn't on the coffin.

"We didn't know how to take it. I really cannot believe it."