THIEVES have stolen medals that were a precious keepsake for a son whose father made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War.

Trevor Price was just four when his father was killed in the conflict, and he had hoped to pass on this legacy to the next generation by handing over the medals to his grandson.

But the five medals have been snatched in a burglary, along with six medals from the First World War earned by Mr Price’s grandfathers.

Trevor and wife Patricia, 71, came home after visiting family to find a trail of destruction through their house, in North Street, Pennington, near Lymington.

The thieves got in by smashing rear patio doors, searched the house and pulled off a safe from the wall in the study containing medals, cash and personal documents.

Upstairs they took jewellery estimated to be worth more than £1,000, including rings and necklaces.

They also emptied out a half-full bottle of change worth around £200.

But it was the loss of the medals, which included their daughter’s 2012 Jubilee medal, which has particularly upset the grandparents-of-five.

Dad-of-three Trevor has only vague memories of father Edward Price, who died aged just 32, in Rome in 1944.

He was in the 8th Army and his medals included the Africa Star and standard service medal.

Meanwhile Trevor’s grandfathers William Palmer and George Price were honoured with three medals each for their service in the First World War.

“They’re family treasures,” said the 78-year-old retired aircraft engineer. “My father’s medals – well he gave his life for the country so they meant a lot to me. I was proud to have them.

“While you have the medals they always live on.

“It does make it worse because there’s no value to them. They have got no respect, they can’t have.”

Police are linking this burglary, which happened between 1.15pm on Saturday and 4.15pm on Sunday, to an attempted burglary on the same road and another burglary around the same time in Golden Crescent, Everton.

In this case, thieves broke in and stole jewellery and cash.

Call 101 with information.