MEDALS awarded to composer sir Edward Elgar, which were stolen in a burglary from his birthplace last year, have been recovered.

Craig McShane, 41, of Ennerdale Avenue of Longlevens, Gloucester has been charged with two counts of receiving stolen goods and one count of going equipped for theft.

One charge is that between June 27, 2019 and February 20, 2020 at The Firs, Elgar's birthplace, Lower Broadheath, Worcester dishonestly received stolen goods, namely the Order of Merit medal and the Grand Cross of The Royal Victorian Order, to the value of approximately £50,000 belonging to the National Trust and Elgar Foundation, knowing or believing them to be stolen goods.

The second charge is that between October 31, 2019 and November 4, 2019 at High Street, Cricklade, Wiltshire dishonestly received stolen goods, namely antiques and ceramics, knowing or believing them to be stolen goods.

McShane has also been charged with one count of going equipped for theft on 20 February in Moreton in Marsh.

He appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Saturday, February 22 and was remanded in custody to appear at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday, March 27.