A hand-restored dolls’ house of great sentimental value has been stolen in a burglary in Hitchin – and officers have today appealed for witnesses.

Police said the burglary happened at about 8.20pm in Broadmead, when three people forced their way into a house through the front door.

They ransacked it and then left, taking a hand-restored thatched dolls’ house with them.

The stolen dolls’ house is 1ft 5in high and 2ft wide, and is in a Tudor style with a thatched roof. It had been restored by hand.

Investigating officer DC Sarah Walsingham said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw any suspicious behaviour to please get in contact.

“I’d also be interested to speak to anyone who may have been offered a dolls’ house similar to the one pictured for sale. It holds a great deal of sentimental value and we are very keen to recover it and get it back to its rightful owners.”

Anyone who has information about this burglary, or who has seen a dolls’ house similar to this one offered for sale, should call police on 101, quoting crime reference G1/18/823, or report online at herts.police.uk/report.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will never need to go to court.