DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after priceless medals were stolen in a burglary at a house in Eastham.

Merseyside police received a call on Thursday, June 15 that a safe had been stolen which included an OBE and war medals during a burglary on Plymyard Avenue between 11.30am and 4.45pm.

The war medals are engraved with the name 'Private James Bennett' from the Gordon Highlanders.

One medal is from the Indian Frontier and the other is a South African medal for the relief of Lady Smith battle.

The safe also contained jewellery, passports, wills and cash cards.

Detective inspector Paul Parry said: “This burglary took place in broad daylight while the occupants were out.

“I’d ask anyone who was on Plymyard Avenue at any point on Thursday June 15 to try to remember whether they saw people acting suspiciously or something unusual going on.

“These items are of huge sentimental value to the victims and would be impossible to replace.

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

"I would ask them to do the right thing and find a way to get the stolen items back to their rightful owner.

“I’d also ask members of the public to be on the lookout in case they are, or have been, offered these items as a gift or for sale either on the street, in pawnbrokers or in pubs or have seen the items for sale on the internet."

Anyone with information can contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

If you come across the items please call detective constable Molyneux on 0151 777 2262.