by Lynn Cox

A stolen urn containing precious ashes is set to be reunited with its owner - after being handed in to police.

The ashes were inside a safe stolen from a church in Gillingham.

They belong to Kerris Birtchnell, a member of Gillingham Spiritualist Church, in Canterbury Street, whose son James died recently at the age of 20.

After his cremation, she asked church leaders if they would look after his ashes as she was in the middle of moving house. Church warden, Rod Palmer, 65, agreed to look after them and put them in the safe.

Earlier this week, thieves forced their way in through patio doors at the back of the building and took the safe.

Now it is believed they were found in a park in Gillingham, and handed over to police.

Mum Kerris was said to be delighted that the urn has been returned, and is due to collect it after it has been fingerprinted.