A BOLTON nursing angel, whose work saving hundreds of lives was recognised by the Queen, has had her treasured MBE medal stolen.

Devastated Anne Kaneen, returned from holiday in the Lake District after a neighbour rang to say thieves had raided her home in Glentrool Mews, Heaton.

The burglars had disabled the security system on the detached house and grabbed thousands of pounds of jewellery and electrical goods. They escaped in Anne's VW Polo car.

Anne's MBE, which was kept in a drawer beside her bed, is missing.

Other items taken included Anne's nursing medals, husband Robert's coin collection, a video recorder, two radio cassette players, Anne's sapphire and diamond eternity ring and her mother-in-law's engagement ring, which Anne was about to give to her eldest daughter.

It is the third time in five years that the house has been burgled.

But it is the loss of the MBE, awarded in the Queen's birthday honours four years ago, which has upset Anne most. The 60-year-old mother of four, received the MBE for services to nursing, having started her career in 1954 and devoting the last 19 years to heart patients, including founding the Bolton Cardiac Support Group.

"I think it is the loss of the MBE which has got me more than anything. It was something I never expected to receive. I am just an ordinary person and you can't help but feel a bit bitter when you have it taken away," said Anne.

The medal, which is attached to a pink ribbon, is not valuable but Anne would love to have it and her nursing medals returned.

"If I could have just one thing back it would be the MBE," she said.

Anyone with information can contact her at the Royal Bolton Hospital on Bolton 390390 ext 3861 or Astley Bridge Police.

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