A distraught Telford pensioner today made a heartfelt plea for the return of stolen camcorder tapes containing treasured memories of his late wife.

Ray James, of Malinslee, said the tapes were the only footage he had of his wife, Gloria, who died in June, aged 63, after suffering from cancer. The former motor mechanic had earlier been sorting out the films for his son to put them on a DVD when the burglars struck.

The 66-year-old, of Stone Row, described how he was in bed asleep when he awoke about 2am on Sunday to find a light coming on and off from outside.

“I looked out and could see a diamond pattern on the grass,” he said. “I thought it looked like my window, which is leaded.

“I came down the stairs and the first thing I saw was my television had gone. I was a bit wary but still not really awake and went into the kitchen.”

Mr James said he had been playing the 15 tapes in the dining area of the kitchen and had put the camcorder on to charge overnight.

He said the film had included footage of him with his wife at a Spanish villa in 2004, shortly after she had completed her first chemotherapy treatment.

A 40in LCD Samsung TV as well as a Fuji digital camera containing photographs of his wife and grandchildren were also taken.

The grandfather-of-five said: “I just hope they have got a conscience. They can throw them back in my garden. I desperately want the tapes back. I don’t want anything else. 

“The television I can replace and I can replace the digital camera and my phone – even that had got music on which was my wife’s favourite. It’s all sentimental.”

Mr James’s family have offered a £100 reward in an attempt to track down the tapes. Alison James, his daughter-in-law, said: “We are not interested in the television or anything else. 

“We just want the tapes back as his wife died earlier this year and she is on them.”

Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call Telford police on 03003 333000.

By Lisa Rowley