Local police are trying to locate the owner of a chest of jewellery that was left in Lancaster Priory two years ago.

The chest was handed to police after it was found amongst the pews at Lancaster Priory in September 2008. Inside were various plastic bags of assorted jewellery an amount of cash.

Police would now like to reunite the box with its owner, who will need to prove that it belongs to them.

“It was not clear if the box was left as a charitable donation to the church,” explains  PC Dan Mitchell of Lancaster Police. “If it had been left by mistake or if in fact it was stolen and had been dumped amongst the pews.

“However, it contains some very distinctive pieces of jewellery, which the legitimate owner would be able to describe, so we would like them to contact us so that it can be returned to them.”

• Anyone with information about the box is asked to contact PC Mitchell on 01524 63333, quoting log ref LC-20081109-0591.