EIGHT medals from the First and Second World War have been stolen in a burglary.

The medals, earrings and £400 in cash were taken during a break-in at a house in Findon Road, Worthing.

The items are believed to have been taken between Tuesday, January 5, and Friday, January 22, following a forced entry.

The medals, in boxes, are engraved with various names, including the surnames Soal, Hare-Winton and Scowen. They belonged to distant relatives of the owner.

Detective Constable Emma Fields, of the West Sussex Priority Crime Team, said: "We believe this incident may be linked to two other break-ins that occurred in the area at around the same time.

"One was in East Drive, Angmering, between 3pm on Wednesday, January 20, and 3.20pm on Friday, January 22. Nothing was stolen. The other was in Normandy Lane, East Preston, between 4pm on Thursday, February 21, and 9.45am the next day, when jewellery and a computer hard drive were stolen."

Details of the stolen medals have been circulated to second-hand and specialist dealers, and anyone with information about any of the burglaries or the whereabouts of the medals or other stolen items should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101.

Alternatively they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 ( www.crimestoppers-uk.org).