BURGLARS ransacked the home of a seriously ill elderly woman while she was in hospital – stealing an engagement ring, platinum watch, vacuum cleaner, flatscreen TV and her car.

Police are appealing for information following the break-in at a house in Sherwood Road in Tetbury, which happened between noon on Saturday and 6pm yesterday.

The offenders entered the house via the rear of the property and stole a gold engagement ring encrusted with diamonds, a platinum Longines watch, a Dyson cylinder vacuum cleaner and a Ferguson flatscreen TV.

The woman’s car, a red Mitsubishi Colt, was also stolen from the rear of the property using car keys taken from the house.

Tetbury beat manager PC Leah Davis said: “This was a particularly callous burglary from the house of an elderly victim who was absent from the house at that particular time receiving treatment for a serious illness. “It is important we catch the offenders as soon as possible. I would urge anyone who saw anything or anyone suspicious over that period to contact us as soon as possible”

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact Gloucestershire oolice on 101, quoting incident number 330 of January 21 and crime number 1522/15.