A WIDOW is making a desperate plea for the return of her late husband's war medal.

The great-grandmother, who does not want to be named, was left traumatised when she returned home after a shopping trip and disturbed burglars who had just left by the back door.

The widow, of Healeywood Road, Burnley, said: "They took my late husband's D-Day medal which he was presented with by the French Government for taking part in the Normandy landings.

"To steal from the dead is unbelievable. I feel so annoyed, it has left me really traumatised."

She has contacted the Royal British Legion to see if the medal can be replaced, but even if a duplicate can be obtained, she wants the original returning.

She said: "My husband died 15 months ago and I was just partially coming to terms with being on my own.

"We had been married for 30 odd years -- I thank God he isn't here today to see this happen to us.

"They took his medal out of his box and left the picture of my daughter in it. I had planned to give his medal and the picture to her at a later date.

"They also took a gold sovereign ring which had been my husband's and I had had made smaller for my grandson."

She said her husband had been decorated 17 times and all his certificates had been given to her grandson, but because the D-Day medal was so important to him they had kept it at their home.

The burglars also stole £500-worth of children's clothing which had been bought for grandchildren, other presents, a gold sovereign watch engraved with YVR and a Samsung video.

If anyone has any information about the burglary or knows the whereabouts of the property, they are asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.