A widow was left in tears after finding out her late husband’s wedding ring was missing on her train journey to work.

Emma Charlesworth from Bapchild, near Sittingbourne, lost her partner Stuart to Covid-19 and has issued a desperate appeal to try find the sentimental item.

The 42-year-old was commuting to London yesterday (September 4), when at around 1pm realised she wasn’t wearing the ring.

“I felt a combination of panic, numbness and an element of guilt,” she said.

“The tears came, and people bought me water and tissues.

“I knew in my heart and my gut that I wasn’t going to find it at home.”

Her husband died in April 2020, aged 45, after testing positive for Covid.

Stuart, known to many as Charlie, had been taken to Medway Maritime Hospital after having a week-long temperature and spent three weeks in the intensive care unit.

He was not thought to have had any underlying health conditions, but had previously recovered from life-threatening testicular cancer.

A bench was installed in February 2021 in memory of the popular dad, who was the lead singer of The Lost Missiles and Off The Radar.

The spot in Hearts Delight Road, Tunstall, was where Stuart took his daughter Rebekah every year on her birthday.

Emma has been wearing Stuart’s wedding ring on her thumb since he passed away.

It is a plain gold band with a mottled effect.

“It’s irreplaceable,” she explained. “I don't know how to explain it but it proves he was here.

“One of the things I struggled with since I was widowed was that it all feels like a dream.

“Losing something tangible is really difficult.”

The marketing manager has now issued an appeal on social media in the hopes that someone might find the ring, saying it is “the biggest long shot of my life”.

It said: “I realise the chances of me ever seeing this ring again are beyond minimal.

“But hope has got me through the last three-and-a-half years since he died in April 2020 and all I can do is hope that someone, somewhere has found it and handed it in.”

Emma went from Spring Street Car Park in Sittingbourne to London via the 6.19am train to Cannon Street.

After changing at London Bridge, she remembers getting the 7.20am train from Platform 9 to Charing Cross.

Then she exited via Northumberland Avenue and walked to the PwC office, where she works.

“I retraced my steps and contacted Southeastern,” Emma added.

“I’m going to double-check again tomorrow.

“It’s like it has vanished into thin air – it’s the most random thing.”

If you have found or come across the ring, please contact csimmonds@thekmgroup.co.uk or message Emma on Facebook here.