AN ANTIQUES collector who had £1,000 worth of garden ornaments stolen from his Newport home last week has had them returned, thanks to a sharp-eyed Argus reader.

We reported last week how Rex Moreton had a pair of terracotta urns, valued at £500 a pair, stolen from his garden.

The 24-inch ornaments date from 1880 and had been in the family for generations.

After the story appeared in the Argus an eagle-eyed reader spotted them at a location in Newport and the police returned the urns this week. Mr Moreton said: "We were delighted to hear that they had been spotted by one of your readers.

"They have now been returned by the police." Over the past few months a number of garden ornaments, paving slabs and edging stones have gone missing in the city.

Stones were stolen from the Stow Hill area of Newport last week and there have been five similar incidents since May.

The largest incident occurred in Clifton Place, where 20 paving slabs were taken and 25 edging stones also disappeared.

At the weekend Newport police, who are investigating the thefts, recovered a number of paving slabs.

The recovered stones are believed to date from the Georgian or Victorian era and police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them. Sergeant Martyn Smith, of Newport central police, said: "We have recovered a number of paving slabs and would appeal for anyone who has had any taken recently to contact us."

If you have any information about any of the incidents contact Newport police on 01633 244999.