A unique antique clock of great sentimental value has been stolen from the Broadstairs home of an 83-year-old woman.

Kent Police have today issued an appeal urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of the family heirloom to come forward.

The elderly owner, of Masons Rise, contacted police after waking up and finding two clocks missing from her living room. Officers believe intruders broke in through the front door and left the same way.

Detective Constable Brian Doughty said: “The larger of the two clocks is a unique item which was commissioned by the victim’s family some years ago. It has a continental mechanism and is believed to be styled on Strasbourg Cathedral.

“It is made of gilt metal and is approximately 2ft tall. It had a glass case over the clock and a chiming mechanism in the wooden base, but the intruders have left both the case and the chiming mechanism behind.

“The clock has been passed down through the family over many years and as such carries a lot of sentimental value.”

Officers have carried out house to house enquiries in the area and followed a number of potential leads following the burglary overnight on February 1. They have yet to make any arrests and the clock has not yet been traced. Kent Police are now appealing to the public, including antique dealers and collectors, to see if anyone has any information about the distinctive clock’s whereabouts.

DC Doughty said: “If anyone has any information about this incident, they can call me on 01843 222264, or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting crime number ZY/3301/14.”

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to remind residents across east Kent that it is vital that they take all possible measures to secure their homes. Kent Police has identified burglary as one of our top priorities and deployed special resources to target criminality but residents can do their bit to help us cut crime by using all the locks on their doors and windows when they go out or when they go to sleep and by installing alarms and other security devices.

“It only takes a second for a burglar to strike but equally it only takes a second to protect your property.”

For more information and advice see www.kent.police.uk/burglary