CRUEL thieves have stolen a treasured gift presented to a Bolton couple by their son-in-law just two weeks before he died while working abroad.

Christopher Staniforth was forced to work overseas when he was made redundant with the closure of Agecroft Colliery.

He took a job as a mining engineer working in the mining town of Ramagudam in India, but suffered a heart attack and died while he was out there.

Just weeks before his death he visited his wife, Sharon, and three young children back in Bolton. During his home visit he presented his mother and father-in-law with an emotional 'thank you' present for looking after his family while he was away.

Now, that present has been stolen by burglars who broke into the couple's Kearsley home. Ironically, today is the first anniversary of Christopher's death, and his heartbroken mother-in-law, Mrs Frances Payne, has made an emotional plea for the return of the present.

The gift was in a mid-blue coloured hard box, of about 12 inches by nine inches, and about four inches deep. It opens lengthways. Inside it has a white satin interior and contains an Indian type coffee pot and six coffee cups in dark metal with silver engraving.

The item was among a large haul stolen, including jewellery, perfume, alcohol, a camera, and a needle and drugs needed for diabetes.

Mrs Payne said: "The present was to say 'thank you mum for looking after my wife and kids while I was away' and was the sort of thing I always thought I would keep forever.

"I am not bothered about the other items stolen, I just want the gift back - it is absolutely irreplaceable. It is of no use or great value to anybody else.

"I thought perhaps it might find itself on a car boot sale, or something similar, and just hope that somebody reading this might be able to help return it."

Anyone who can help track the item down, should contact Mrs Payne on (01204) 700881 or 572418. Alternately, Farnworth detectives are investigating the burglary and can be telephoned on 0161 872 5050.

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