Redgrave's appeal to raiders who stole his awards

The five-time Olympic gold medalist lost the trophies along with "sentimental" jewellery when the thieves threw a brick through a door of his home in Marlow Bottom, Buckinghamshire.

The rower said his Olympic gold medals, won over the last three decades, were fortuntately not kept at the home he shares with wife Ann.

Among the "irreplaceable" jewellery was a retirement watch given to Sir Steve's grandfather and charm bracelets belonging to his wife and her mother.

He said: "Ann and I were quite devastated to hear that many items, including several irreplaceable ones had been taken when our house was burgled.

"My grandfather's retirement watch after 40 years on the buses is worth nothing to anyone but ourselves, as are my three BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, which no one could sell on.

"Fortunately, all my Olympic medals are not kept at home.

"We would appeal to the intruders to please find some way of returning these items, together with the charm bracelets of my wife and her mother, which are again of greater sentimental rather than monetary value."

Thieves broke into the house at about 4.30am.

Detective Sergeant Mark Stevens, from the Priority Crime team at Thames Valley Police, said: "I would appeal to anyone that may have witnessed this incident or have any information that might help us in tracing these items, to please get in touch."