by Lynn Cox

A church warden is appealing for thieves to return the remains of a parishioner's son.

The ashes were inside a safe that was 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.

He was epileptic and died when he was 20 years old.

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.

Rod said: “I thought James’ ashes would be secure inside the safe, but obviously not.

"It’s very upsetting and we are all shocked by what has happened.

“James’ ashes are irreplaceable, so we would ask whoever stole them to just bring them back.”