Merseyside Police is appealing for the public's help after a large haul of rare and distinctive jewellery was stolen from a house in West Kirkby.

On Tuesday, February 16, the victim left a property on Column Road at about 11am and returned at 8pm after a house alarm alerted police.

Officers attended to find entry had been forced to a rear window and an untidy search had been made in the property.

Gold rings and necklaces had been stolen.

Forensic examinations were carried out and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is still ongoing.

The jewellery stolen was unique, mainly vintage Russian gold and precious stones.

Some were stamped with the numbers 585 and 583, some with a hammer and a sickle inside a star and others are stamped with a face.

Detective Constable Jackie Cleaver said: "This collection of jewellery has huge sentimental value to the victim as it was handed down by her mother.

"It includes rare and distinctive jewellery that would be almost impossible to replace.

"I'd like to appeal to the consciences of the offenders and ask them put themselves in the victim's position and think how they would feel if this happened to them.

"I would ask for the them to do the right thing and return the stolen items to the owner in any way possible.

"We would also appeal to anyone who was in the Column Road area on February 16 to cast their mind back to between 11am and 8pm and contact us if they remember anything suspicious.

"I’d also ask any members of the public to lookout just in case they are, or have been, offered any these items of jewellery for sale on the street, in pawnbrokers or have seen them for sale on the internet."

Anyone who has any information shouldcall Wirral CID 0151 777 2260 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The jewellery stolen included:

Russian Collection

1. Round gold ring with blue precious stone. Pale blue topaz or aquamarine stone solid gold ring. The stone was about 1cm in diameter.

2. Teardrop dangly earrings with blue precious stone. Matched ring above. Large teardrop earrings with a loop and hook fastening.

3. Gold ring with square greenish precious stone. Heavy solid gold setting with a large square precious stone. The stone looked like a light aqua green colour that seems to turn darker sometimes. The setting was solid gold with a sculptured gold scroll design.

4. Very large gold ring with a large precious stone that changed colour from deep purple to deep bluey green. Solid gold with lots of leafy golden scrolling.

5. Very large gold ring with a red precious stone. Looks like a three tier solid gold cake. Bottom layer was like a gold skirt that went up to the second tier which was a solid gold setting for the final tier – a large deep red ruby.

6. Oval shaped gold and ruby pendant with chain. Solid gold surround, oval shaped plain and smooth.

7. Tear shaped ruby pendant and gold chain. Solid gold chain and pendant. The pendant was very elaborate and detailed.

8. Solid gold round creole type medium earrings. Loop and latch clasp.

Other Jewellery 9. 3 leaf clover solid gold earrings.

10. Solid gold duo band ring - £250.00.

11. Bracelet – solid gold similar to belcher chain, T-bar and loop fastening with a solid gold plain heart attached to the fastening.

12. Matching solid necklace to bracelet above. T-bar and fastening with solid gold heart.

13. Plain solid gold open bangle with two solid gold balls marking each end.

14. Round sold gold cameo ring. Burnt sandstone with cream silhouette. Very traditional looking.

15, 16, & 17. Three solid gold necklaces with penny-sized religious Madonna symbol. The Madonna was either holding a baby Jesus to her cheek or had her hand placed on her heart. The round pendant may have been solid 18ct gold.

18. Two solid gold baby expandable bracelets. Both patterned and scrolling.

19, 20 & 21. Three gold wedding rings. One was 18ct 5mm extra heavy weights, rose gold court ring. ID Engraved with wedding date 18/11/1963 in scrolled italics. The other two wedding bands was melted from 24, 18 and 9ct gold and it was not hallmarked. They were solid gold, plain and extra heavy weighted with no markings, this was bespoke for a wedding.