A GRIEVING pensioner returned home on the eve of his late wife’s funeral to find burglars had ransacked his home.

As well as taking £800 Colin Watts had set aside for his wife Brenda’s funeral, they took her wedding, engagement and eternity rings.

The crooks ransacked his home in Ladysmith Road, Brighton, on April 7, leaving the pensioner “shocked” and “angry”.

He said: “Needless to say I did not sleep very well.

“I screwed up the back door and boarded up some of the ground floor windows.

“I was disgusted. There were sympathy cards and flowers about the place so they must have seen.

“What are these people like? I do not know how they live with themselves.”

The funeral went ahead the following day but the cash had been set aside to help provide transport and taxis for the mourners.

He said: “Obviously I was quite broken up about it but there were a lot of good people there and she had a good send off – they were very supportive.”

Mr Watts, 69, and his wife had been together for 43 years and married for 39 after they met in a dance club in Brighton.

As well as the £800 cash and the rings, a laptop, an Asus tablet and two commemorative coins from the Queen's coronation were also taken.

Detective Constable Emily Hoare said: “The victim lost his wife earlier in March and had been saving the money for her funeral which was on Wednesday, this is obviously a very sad time for the victim and this has added to his distress.

“These burglars broke in and stole the money, as well as the electrical items.

“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area of Ladysmith Road of Brighton between midday and 5.50pm who might have seen anything suspicious to please get it touch.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101@sussex.pmm.police.uk quoting serial 1251 of 07/04. Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”