Widow pleads for return of husband's stolen ashes

Keen cricket fan Nigel Hill wanted his ashes scattered at his local cricket club

A widow has pleaded for the return of her husband's stolen ashes so she can fulfil his last wish of them being scattered on a cricket pitch.

Police said burglars took Nigel Hill's ashes from a garage in Brandlesholme Road, Bury, on 19 September.

Mr Hill's wife Susan said her husband, 72, who died of pancreatic cancer, wanted his ashes to be scattered at his local cricket club.

The family had wanted to wait until the cricket season finished.

The couple were married for nearly 50 years and Mrs Hill said he wanted his ashes left at Woodbank Cricket Club as it held "a special place in his heart" and he loved spending time there.

The ashes, which were kept in a mint green box, were taken during a burglary at the family garage along with power tools.

Mrs Hill said: "Nigel's death has completely devastated our family, and to say we are heartbroken would be an understatement.

"Nigel spent the majority of his time in the garage. He was a passionate handyman who would turn his hands to absolutely anything and loved spending time at his workbench.

"When we received Nigel's ashes, we decided as a family that we would place them on his wooden workbench in the garage, as this is where he loved to be, and where he was his happiest.

"As a family, we decided that we would wait until the cricket season was over to scatter Nigel's ashes, and now the season is over, we cannot fulfil his wishes as someone has stolen them from us."

Mr Hill's wife said the cricket club held "a special place in his heart"

Police and Mr Hill's family have appealed for information.

"I am not interested in the return of the power tools, all I want is for my husband's ashes to be returned to us, so as a family we can fulfil his last wish and lay him to rest," Mrs Hill added.

"I have already lost my husband, and now I have lost him for a second time."