by Alan Watkins

A vicar and his wife are praying they will be reunited them with some precious christening items.

The mementoes were in a yellow Fiat 500 that was stolen from the vicarage in Green Street Green Road, Darenth.

The items were in a cardboard box which may have been thrown away by the thieves as having no value to them.

“They are precious to us,” said Fiona Williams, wife of St Margaret’s vicar, Nicholas Williams.

“The insurance company is replacing other things like the car, my husband’s coats and so on, but these were our son’s christening clothes and little gifts. They mean so much to us.”

They include a child’s romper suit, the christening shawl originally used when Mr Williams was a baby, plus all the christening cards.

Astonishingly, it is the second time that Nicholas and Fiona Williams have had a vehicle stolen from the Vicarage since the couple moved to St Margaret’s last August.

“If I was in a parish where crime might be reported to be high, I could understand, but this is a quiet area on a busy road,” said a saddened Mrs Williams.

The first time thieves struck they stole a 20-year-old Land Rover Defender.

It was spotted by police who gave chase but the thieves got away and later tried to burn it out.

Mr Williams decided to buy a bright yellow Cinquecento, saying: “Thieves would never want a bright yellow Fiat 500.”

He was wrong.

“They tried to force the lock,” said Mrs Williams.

“There must have been several of them, because they lifted the gates off their hinges to get in.”

The diocesan authorities are now putting in stronger security including CCTV and spotlights.The christening items were in a cardboard box, 18in by 12in, with rope handles. Inside, was a black IKEA cardboard box with a metal corner containing the clothes.

“The police have given us no hope at all,” said Mrs Williams.

“I have tried Facebook and Twitter – now I hope the paper’s readers might be able to help.”