Robyn Schonhofer waited 25 years to wear a family heirloom diamond ring. But before she could put it on it was lost in a jewellery shop bungle.

Robyn's mum, Stella Goddard, had worn the ring for years but when it got too tight she passed it on to her daughter.

Robyn took the five-diamond, 18 carat art deco ring into Hove Jewellers in George Street, Hove, to be resized.

When she went to collect it, it had been lost.

Robyn, 25, a journalist for Virgin Radio, said: "I took the ring in and stressed it was a family heirloom. They promised to look after it.

"When I went back, they said it had been given to another jeweller, Larry Sklar, to alter and he had no recollection of it.

"I was really upset. The ring was bought in the Thirties as an eternity or engagement ring and has been in my family for four generations. Now it was my turn to wear it but it has gone."

Robyn believes Mr Sklar may have dropped the ring somewhere between George Street and his workshop in Portslade.

Mrs Goddard, of Crestway, Portslade, said: "The ring is not wildly valuable but it has huge sentimental value.

"We are very disappointed the jewellers could not account for it. They seem to have very casual arrangements."

Robyn said: "The jewellers admitted liability and offered to replace it but it's irreplaceable."

Amanda Wawman, manager of Hove Jewellers, said: "We have done everything we can to try to find it.

"My records show we gave three items to Larry that day. We have worked with Larry for ten years and have never had a problem."

Mr Sklar said he was confident he had never seen the ring. He said he carried repair items in his pockets and agreed it could have fallen out.

He said: "I have agreed to go halves with the shop to replace the ring but I cannot replace the sentimental value."

Since the loss, the shop and Mr Sklar have tightened up their hand-over procedures.

Anyone who has found the ring can call Robyn on 0207 6632064.