IRREPLACEABLE family antiques worth £15,000 have been stolen in a burglary at a house in Lostock.

Paintings, silverware and jewellery were among the items taken and police are not ruling out the possibility that the break-in could be linked with a similar burglary at Bradshaw.

As in the previous break-in, the thieves immobilised the burglar alarm and entered the detached house by forcing a rear window.

DC Andy Highham of Horwich Police said that disabling the alarm is fairly uncommon and obviously the people responsible were very determined.

The burglary took place between 10am on March 28 and 8.30am the following day.

Some of the most valuable items stolen were a silver spirit kettle and a silver candelabra. Jewellery taken included a gold bracelet and several necklaces.

DC Higham said the thieves did not take the usual items such as televisions and videos but seemed to know exactly what they were looking for.

"These items are irreplaceable," he said. "The family have built them up over a number of years and they have been handed down through the generations. The owners are obviously upset because they are of great sentimental value."

Anyone offered any of the property for sale or anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers or Horwich CID on 0161 8565785.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.