A burglary has left a former Cliftonville nurse without precious mementoes from her career.

Thieves struck when Moira Barnett, of Wyndham Avenue, left her home to go shopping for just an hour and a half.

They took a jewellery box with badges and a brass buckle that the 59-year-old received after qualifying as a nurse at the former Royal Sea Bathing Hospital in Margate in the 1970s.

Moira said: “The badges were engraved with my maiden name and are worthless to anyone else. They are irreplaceable and are a little piece of history because the hospital no longer exists.

“I could imagine the burglars will just throw them away because they aren’t valuable.

”The buckle and the jewellery box were both 21st birthday presents.”

Moira’s engagement ring was also taken, along with a laptop and a number of other personal items.

She said: “The loss of the laptop is annoying but at least it’s not personal.

“I was burgled several years ago when living in a different house and the ring was one of the few things that wasn’t taken then. My mother had recently been burgled and had given me what was left of her jewellery, which was all taken in that raid.

“The engagement ring was given to me in 1976 and is gold, with two amethysts, and it’s a very unusual shape.

“If the burglars had any conscience they would at least return the badges because they mean so much to me. I’m prepared to offer a small reward if they are returned to me by someone.”

• If anyone knows where the badges are or would like to help return them they can bring them to the Thanet Extra office at 181 Northdown Road, Cliftonville, or telephone the police on 101