A RETIRED couple returned from a family holiday to discover their Widnes home had been ransacked and burgled.

Alan Taylor, aged 68, and his 62-year-old wife, Paula were shocked to find a trail of destruction.

Every room had been wrecked, precious family jewellery stolen and relatives’ war photographs smashed.

Fortunately, an astute neighbour noticed lights on at their house in Lunts Heath Road at 1am on Sunday, July 19 and raised the alarm.

The thief was arrested hours later and has been jailed for two burglaries on the same day.

The Farnworth family is now appealing to neighbours to search their gardens in case the thief may have dropped items as he escaped.

The couple’s daughter, Adele Bennett, aged 35, from Farnworth, said: “Mum was in tears. He had trashed the place.

“Your home is the one place you feel safe. It is your sanctuary.

“To come home and find someone has rifled through your life is traumatic.

“Both my granddads Edwin Taylor and Jimmy Moore served in the RAF in India and died young.

“Jimmy’s wing badge was trampled on the floor and his picture frame smashed.”

She said her parents were enjoying their first holiday with her and her husband, Michael and their eight-month-old son, Edward.

They had hired a beach house in North Wales with her sister, Caroline, aged 37, and her son, Michael, aged 15.

Her grandmother’s costume jewellery, a sterling christening bangle, her grandad’s cufflinks and her dad’s i-pod, a retirement gift, are still missing.

Adele added: “They are all precious memories and are of great sentimental value.

“The police have been fabulous. We would also like to say a big thank you to our neighbour.”

Sgt Neil Edgar of Widnes Neighbourhood Policing Unit confirmed that Ashley Graham, aged 32, formerly from Widnes but now living in Vincent Street, St Helens was arrested at 17.50 on July 19.

He appeared in Runcorn Magistrates Court the following day and was jailed for 12 months for the burglary of this house and another property in Baileys Close.