A NURSING angel's stolen MBE has been returned to her - thanks to the BEN.

Anne Kaneen woke this morning to find the medal and three of her stolen rings had been posted through the door of her Heaton home.

In last night's BEN Anne said if she could have anything back following a burglary at her home it would be her MBE. And in its leader column the BEN appealed to the thieves to return it.

She said: "I couldn't believe it when my husband got up at 6am and found the MBE and rings had been pushed through the door. I want to thank the BEN very much. The story obviously touched someone's conscience."

Thieves had disabled the security system at their home in Glentrool Mews and taken thousands of pounds of goods.

But the most treasured item taken, said Anne, was the MBE, kept in a drawer beside her bed.

It was awarded in the Queen's birthday honours four years ago for her work saving the lives of hundreds of heart patients.

"The pink ribbon is a bit dishevelled but the medal itself is intact. I feel elated," said Anne today. Along with the returned medal were three rings, Anne's sapphire and diamond eternity ring, her mother-in-law's engagement ring which she had been about to give to her daughter, Lesley, and another sapphire and diamond ring.

"They are all of great sentimental value so I am very pleased to have got them back," she said.

Also taken in the burglary, while Anne was on holiday, were nursing medals, husband Robert's coin collection, a video recorder and other jewellery and watches.

"I said in the paper that the most important thing to me was the MBE and if I could get any one thing back it would be the medal.

"I have got my wish and I am thrilled."

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