Best Man Utd shirt in theft haul

A signed Man Utd shirt belonging to George Best was stolen

A Manchester United shirt signed by George Best is among a collection of sporting memorabilia stolen from a house in the south Wales valleys.

Red gloves signed by boxing greats Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Sir Henry Cooper were also stolen in the burglary at Abersychan near Pontypool.

Thieves also made off with a 250cc motocross bike and power tools in the burglary last Friday.

Police are linking the thefts with a fire at the house on the same night.

Officers at Pontypool, who are investigating the overnight thefts are appealing for information.

They said the sporting items stolen from the house at Oaks Road, Abersychan, were "of great sentimental value to the owner".

Tickets for the Cooper-Ali fights in the 1960s were also stolen

As well as the football shirt worn by Best and the signed boxing gloves, ringside tickets of the 1964 fight between Henry Cooper and Cassius Clay (who later became Muhammad Ali), and tickets for the encounter between the pair two years later, were stolen.

Among the boxing items taken were red gloves signed by John Conteh and black shorts signed by Nigel Benn.

An orange and black KTM 250cc motocross bike was also taken from the property along with various power tools and electrical goods.

Gwent Police asked anyone with information about the theft or any suspicious activity in the Abersychan area at the time, or has been offered any of the items for sale, should contact them.

Police are on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.