Rare jewellery stolen in burglary in Spennymoor

Burglars stole valuable and distinctive items of jewellery estimated to be worth several thousand pounds from an elderly couple in County Durham.

They included a rare men's Bulova Accutron watch and a woman's 18-carat gold bracelet, featuring a charm in the shape of a swastika.

The house in Osborne Road, Spennymoor, was broken into on 17 December.

Police want to trace a potential witness who approached the couple shortly after the incident.

He spoke to the occupants volunteering details about a car he had seen pulling away from the property.

The man, described as being smartly-dressed and wearing a navy anorak, described the vehicle as a metallic grey Ford with a partial registration of SK08. However, he declined to leave his details.

Other items stolen included two women's Breitling watches, a garnet ring with a flower cluster and a small amount of cash.

Police said the jewellery "would stand out a mile" if the burglar tried to sell it on and are appealing for people to be vigilant.