BURGLARS have struck at the home of the oldest coach driver in the world, stealing jewellery which he says is of great sentimental value.

Ken Perry, 83, of New Road, Blackwood, who is named in the Guinness Book of Records as being the world's oldest coach driver, was burgled for the first time in his life last week.

He and his wife Molly - who celebrated their diamond wedding earlier this year - lost hundreds of pounds of "irreplaceable" jewllery.

This included a gold watch Mr Perry was given by his four children for his 70th birthday as well as a chain and a ruby and gold tie-pin.

And a locket belonging to 80-year-old Mrs Perry, with a picture of her husband and one of her sons inside, was also taken.

Mr Perry said he and his wife only left the house for around three hours last Wednesday afternoon.

But when they returned home from their trip to Pontypridd market, they found a panel had been ripped out of their back door.

"They must have been determined to get in. We have seven feet high gates at the back but they still managed to get in," said Mr Perry. "We believe they were after money."

He added that their home had been "ransacked," the contents of drawers turned out on to the floors. They left no stone unturned," he said.

Mrs Perry said she had been very shocked to find their home burgled and she had "hardly stopped shaking" since.

She added she rarely took off the locket that was stolen and it had been the first time she left it at home when she went out. Several other pieces of family jewellery, including some Welsh gold, were stolen.

"We haven't really counted the cost. They were the sort of things that no money can replace," said Mrs Perry.

Anyone offered jewellery for sale that they suspect may have been stolen from the Perrys should contact Blackwood police station on 01495 223673.

* In the picture: Ken and Mary Parry.