Gerald and Carole Thomas were distraught when his gold wedding ring was lost during a stay in hospital.

A precious memento of their 60-year marriage, the grandparents from Herne Bay feared they would never see it again.

But a nurse at the QEQM Hospital at Margate, where retired builder Gerald, 85, was being treated following a fall, was determined to find it.

And the perseverance of Gemma King, who works with the dementia team, paid off when she tracked it down to the East Kent Hospital Trust’s laundry facility in Ashford.

So there was huge joy when she was able to return it to the couple.

“Gerald has had that same ring for the whole time we have been married so we would have been devastated if we didn’t get it back….”

Carole spoke of the couple’s relief as she put the gold band back on her husband’s finger.

“Gerald has had that same ring for the whole time we have been married so we would have been devastated if we didn’t get it back.

“We feared it was gone for good but Gemma was fantastic and determined to find it.”

The treasured ring is thought to have been lost when Gerald moved wards.

Staff at the laundry facility found two rings with one quickly identified as belonging to Gerald.

Gemma says it was like “looking for lost treasure” and she was delighted to be able to reunite them with the band.

She also praised the laundry staff for their help in retrieving it from bed linen.

Carole said: “It was a really lovely thing for Gemma to do. She has been absolutely marvellous in her care and compassion for Gerald and the family.

“Gerald has had that same ring for the whole time we have been married so we would have been devastated if we didn’t get it back.

Gemma also arranged for hospital chaplain Chinedu Udonsi to bless the rings again in a ceremony on the ward.