A FAMILY is "devastated" and "heartbroken" after their sister's memorial stone was stolen from a church in Curry Rivel.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a marble head stone was taken from St Andrews Church on Sunday, January 24.

The memorial stone belonged to Victoria, who died in a house fire in Curry Rivel in 1996 when she was just 15, along with her friend, Heather, and her nan.

Alex - Victoria's sister - said they have been regularly visiting the cemetery for 24 years.

"The memorial stone that we chose as a family for Vicky’s grave couldn’t be more precious and we are devastated by such a cruel theft," said Alex.

"We’ve regularly visited the cemetery for 24 years, now with our children who have always referred to the grave as ‘Vicky’s special place’.

"We’ve since lost our mum and so we have three family graves in a row in the church, we desperately need to be able to visit and find comfort from laying flowers again.

We plead with anyone who took it to please return it or if anybody knows what happened to it please come forward.

"Our family have been through enough heartbreak."

Dominique, Victoria's other sister, said they are "heartbroken" since the stone was stolen.

"After the tragedy of losing our sister we are heartbroken that her memorial stone has been stolen," she added.

"This theft has brought back all the pain of her bereavement. Her memorial stone means nothing to others but everything to our family."

To help identify the head stone, Alex has provided us with the poem printed on the marble heart: 

"You cannot see or touch me, 
but I am standing next to you, 
your tears can only hurt me, 
your sadness makes me blue. 
Be brave and show a smiling face, 
let not your grief show through, 
I love you from a different place, 
yet I'm standing next to you." 

Anyone with information about the head stone is encouraged to call 101 and quote the reference 5221016876.