Burglars stole more than £11,000 of jewellery from the flat of a friend to the stars.

Treasured possessions given to Vasso Irwin by her late husband Geoffrey were taken.

They included a Egyptian gold and green scarab bracelet and a gold Queen Nefertiti necklace and matching earrings set.

The haul included Mr Irwin's Army watch given to him in 1945 and which has the inscription "To Captain Irwin" on the back.

He was wearing it when he met Mrs Irwin, now 79, while serving in Palestine in 1947.

The couple owned Vasso's pub restaurant in The Lanes, Brighton, for 12 years. Mr Irwin named it as a tribute to his wife.

Screen legend Robert Mitchum and other stars were visitors to the pub, in Brighton Square.

Actor John Alderton famously got down on one knee and proposed to his wife Pauline Collins there.

The burglary happened at Mrs Irwin's flat in Adelaide Crescent, Hove, while she was visiting her doctor in Brighton on October 27.

Anyone with information should phone Hove police on 0845 6070999.