A woman is offering a £10,000 reward for the return of her mother’s “irreplaceable” engagement ring after it was stolen by burglars as she slept.

Christine Caley, 52, is taking the extraordinary step five months after thieves broke into her home.

She said: “When I realised the ring was gone, it felt like hearing of a bereavement.

“It’s not something that can be replaced emotionally - dad gave it to mum and he’s not with us anymore.

“We have had it in the family for such a long time, the first thing my mum after the burglary was ‘did they take the ring?’.”

Her mother, 83, had passed it on to Christine to wear.

No one has been arrested for the burglary on September 25 in Hubbards Chase, Hornchurch.

The ring, which is made of platinum with a 1.5 carat diamond in the centre and two sets of three diamonds either side, was just part of the thieves’ haul.

They broke in while Christine and her 17-year-old son were asleep upstairs and got away with jewellery, iPads, laptops, an iPhone and the car.

“Police said they think they came for the car and grabbed everything they could get their hands on,” Christine said.

“My husband went to work at 5.30am and by the time I got up at 7.30am, everything was gone.

“They came in while when we were in bed, they could have come upstairs – anything could have happened.

“I’m glad they didn’t, it could have been a lot worse.”

A Havering Police spokesman said enquiries are “ongoing” but the family have lost hope of having their belongings returned.

They believe someone must have seen the distinctive ring, which could have been sold on.

Christine said: “I am prepared to give a large reward no questions asked.

“I don’t care if it is returned via the burglar or the purchaser, we just want it back.”

Anyone with information is asked to email c.caley1@icloud.com.