Sheffield woman's car stolen with parents' ashes inside

Sara Rodgers' car was stolen while parked outside her house

A grieving woman is appealing for help after thieves stole her car which contained the ashes of her parents.

Sara Rodgers said her white Toyota CHR car was taken between 18:00 GMT last Thursday and 07:50 GMT on Friday while parked in Osborne Road, Sheffield.

Mrs Rodgers said she had picked up the ashes on Thursday for their interment at the crematorium on Friday and had left them in the car's boot overnight.

She is now appealing for help to locate the "invaluable" items.

The 49-year-old said her mother, Jacqueline, and father, David Smith, died aged 72 and 75 respectively due to cancer.

"Mum died on 21 July this year and dad three weeks later," Mrs Rodgers told the BBC.

She said the theft of her parents' ashes had "brought it all back".

"It's been a really bad week to be honest," Mrs Rodgers said.

"We wanted the ceremony to go ahead on Friday so that we'd have somewhere to go.

"At the minute the plaque is there, but nobody's there."

Mrs Rodgers said the box containing the ashes was made from light oak and was inscribed with her parents' names and their birth and death years.

"I'd just like the ashes returning," she said. "They are of no value to anyone else, but they are to my family."

South Yorkshire Police confirmed the car theft had been reported but, due to a lack of CCTV footage or other lines of inquiry, the case had been filed.

A force spokesperson urged anyone with information to come forward, adding: "We know in this case, the hugely precious and sentimental contents of the urn will be at the forefront of the victims' minds following this heartless theft."