A wife has spoken of her heartbreak after her late mother’s jewellery was among £15,000 worth of gems stolen.

Carrie Burns, 43, was at home with her daughter Alice, 15, in Warninglid, near Haywards Heath, when the items, including her wedding and engagement ring, were stolen.

Mrs Burns and her daughter did not even realise someone was in the house with them until she went to put her jewellery on to discover it had vanished.

She then realised that muddy footprints which she thought originally were the family pet were actually the intruder.

Speaking yesterday, mother-of-two Mrs Burns said Warden Park Academy pupil Alice had noticed her mother’s door was shut, but assumed she was in there.

She said: “Then I went to get my jewellery from my silver pot and it was not there. It didn’t click at first.

“I thought, ‘how strange’, but didn’t initially realise that it had been stolen.”

She told how the jewellery included items belonging to her late grandmother, Emily Ancell, and mother, Emily Russell, who died three and a half years ago following an operation.

The items taken were expensive, but also had a deep sentimental value and included her grandfather’s ring which she had given to her husband, Ashley Burns, and had engraved with their marriage date.

It also included bracelets and necklaces belonging to other family members.

“I feel really sick. I’m worried the jewellery has been melted down,” she said.

Businessman Mr Burns added: “Our property is approached by electric gates and behind that there are three Alsatian guard dogs that roam freely.

“My wife has not eaten or slept since the intrusion and my little girl is frightened to walk to the rear of our property.”

Detective Constable Andy Robinson said: “The pieces that were stolen were distinctive, chunky pieces of jewellery that were each very valuable.

“I want to speak to anyone who was in the area around Brighton Road on the morning of Thursday, March 13, and may have seen someone acting suspiciously around any of the homes.

“If you have been offered any large gold rings or bracelets since Thursday or have heard of any for sale, please contact us.”

Anyone with information should get in touch with Sussex Police by calling 101.