Thieves ransacked a house and stole items of sentimental value while a family was at a mother’s bedside as she died.

Vernon Smith, of Honeybourne, near Evesham, was at Bricklehampton Hall Care Home on Tuesday with his father Dennis, aged 82, and sister Linda Blower, when his mum Margaret died.

While the family were saying their emotional goodbyes to the 81-year-old, thieves broke in to the home she shared with Dennis for 12 years in Westbourne, Honeybourne.

They stole wedding rings, a gold watch given to Dennis by Margaret and £600 cash. Mr Smith said the actions of the thieves were “utterly despicable” and he hoped they would be so ashamed of themselves they would return the items.

He said: “We were given a call to say that mum was not doing well and we should come in to see her.

“She died at 3pm and when we returned to her home we found it had been burgled.

“It is horrible to think that while we were saying goodbye to mum, these people were heartlessly rummaging through her personal items. I want to make an appeal to the local community to catch these people.

“Someone in the area must have seen or heard something. The items they stole are of enormous sentimental value “I hope the thieves see what they have done is terribly wrong and are big enough to admit it, and return the items.”

Mr Smith’s father Dennis was married to Margaret for 62 years and was too distraught to speak.

Anyone with information on the crime, should call police on 03003 333000.