The heartbroken victim of a burglary has appealed for the return of her mother's irreplaceable necklace.

Nursery nurse Karin Elliott said the necklace is all she had left of her mum Rose who died aged 64 last September.

The platinum stone set necklace was among a £1,000 haul of jewellery taken by a thief who broke into Mrs Elliott's home in Shakespeare Drive, Southend.

The thief is believed to have got into the garden behind the flat through an alleyway before crawling through a window. Police at Southend today appealed for help to try and find some of the irreplaceable jewellery taken.

As well as the necklace this included two lockets, one with pictures of Mrs Elliott's parents and the other with photos of her children, and a jewellery box which contained her children's milk teeth.

Speaking today, Mrs Elliott said: "The theft of my mum's necklace has really got to me.

"It was 44 years old and all I had of her and they took it. It's quite rare but I suppose I have little chance of seeing it again."

She added: "This is the first time I have ever been burgled and I can't seem to get over it.

"It happened a week ago but I still can't sleep. My mind is rattling with what happened. I just want my mum's necklace back."

If you can help, call the crime management unit at Southend police on 01702 431212.

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