A woman left heartbroken after a gold locket containing her grandmother’s ashes was stolen from her home is appealing for its return.

The Comet: Terrie Langridge was very close to her grandmother, Mary Gale, who died in May.Terrie Langridge was very close to her grandmother, Mary Gale, who died in May. (Image: Archant)

Terrie Langridge, of Wisden Road in Stevenage, has worn the necklace since her grandmother died in May, aged 78.

The 32-year-old said: “My nan was in a home and had dementia and I was visiting her up to three times a day to get her to eat and drink. She had just given up.

“After she died she was cremated and buried at St Mary’s Church in Hitchin, but I put some of her ashes in a locket.”

Terrie, who only removed the locket to wash or to go to bed, had taken off the necklace to have a bath and had left it in the bathroom when it was taken.

She said: “I’m devastated. It’s not about the actual locket or chain. It’s the fact someone could be wearing it around their neck and not know what’s inside, or worse still it’s in the bin.

“I have to get it back. It feels as if I lost her in May and now again. It has broken me.”

Terrie, who was so close to her grandmother she has the date of her birth and death tattooed on her arm, says the nine carat gold locket was stolen sometime between 6pm and 10pm on December 30.

She has reported the theft to Herts police, who are investigating. Anyone with information about the theft or the locket’s whereabouts can call 101, quoting crime reference number E1/16/9602.