AN Andover pensioner is condemning the 'thoughtless and unnecessary' act of thieves who broke into his ten-year-old car and stole countless personal belongings, including some of his late wife's possessions.

George Rumbold, aged 86, lost his pension book, bank book, shopping, MOT certificate and insurance documents when his E-reg Ford Escort was ransacked.

It was parked in the George Yard car park on 17 April.

"I had just done my shopping and was walking back through the market when I saw some plants I'd like," said Mr Rumbold who lives in Artists Way.

"I couldn't carry it all, so I went back to the car, off-loaded my shopping and banking bits and went back for the plants. When I came back five or so minutes later I couldn't see that anything was wrong.

"The car was still locked, but everything had been taken from inside," he said.

"I was devastated be-cause as well as important documents like my pension book, they'd taken some belongings of my late wife which mean the world to me," said George.

Mr Rumbold is appealing for anyone who knows the whereabouts of his possessions to get in touch.

"I don't mind about the cash that was taken. I don't mind about the shopping.

"But I need to get my wife's bits back.

"I even started checking in the bins around the car park to see if they'd just been dumped. It's awful," he said.

Among those things missing which belonged to Mrs Rumbold are a long, gold-plated cigarette lighter and matching cigarette case.

"They're of no value whatsoever, we bought them in the 1970s, but they're everything to me and I'd just like to see them returned," he said.

If you're able to help, call Andover police on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.