Bradford on Avon homeowner Carolyn Ching is appealing for anyone with information after four stone urns were stolen from her property in Church Street.

The thief took the first urn, dating back to the 18th century, from Mrs Ching’s wall on January 20 between 7pm and 7.15pm.

Mrs Ching said: “My neighbour saw a man with the urn. He saw her looking and jumped into a truck and backed down the road with no headlights on.”

She reported it to the police but by last Wednesday two more urns were taken and a fourth went missing from her garden.

Mrs Ching, a writer, has lived in the house with her artist husband Ray for 23 years. She said: “I feel sad for the house. It has an amazing history. It was one time owned by the secretary of Queen Elizabeth I.”

Around the same time 12 stone balustrades were stolen from another property in Church Street.

A police spokesperson for Bradford on Avon Neighbourhood Police Team said: “Police are keen to speak to the driver of a modern-style crew cab pickup vehicle seen in the area around 7pm on Monday (January 20).

Anyone with any information can call police on 101 quoting crime reference number 54140006848.