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Northamptonshire mum's ashes stolen in farm burglary

Sophie Edmondson Sophie Edmondson with her motherSophie Edmondson
Sophie Edmondson said her mum (right) would be "furious" with the theft at Wicken, which is between Milton Keynes and Buckingham

A woman has asked the thieves who broke into her home to return the urn containing her mother's ashes.

Sophie Edmondson discovered a building on her farm in the village Wicken, Northamptonshire, had been burgled on Sunday afternoon.

A wooden urn designed by her mother, Hannah Aquarone, and containing her ashes was stolen.

"It couldn't be more of a personal item," said Ms Edmondson.

Mrs Aquarone died in 2017 with pancreatic cancer. She had told her family her clear wishes as to what should be done with her ashes.

Before her death, she designed and commissioned the wooden urn decorated with carvings of her favourite flowers, name and two mice to represent her and her husband.

Her daughter said: "The heart-breaking bit is we can't give her what she wanted and that's absolutely devastating."

Sophie Edmondson The unique wooden urnSophie Edmondson
The carved wooden urn has been in the family since Hannah Aquarone died in 2017

Northamptonshire Police said two offenders arrived at the property on Wicken Park Road between 01:00 and 03:00 BST on Saturday in a white van, believed to be a Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter.

The duo broke into the unoccupied home, which is under renovation, as well as the outbuilding where the victim's belongings were being stored.

A police spokesperson asked for people with information to contact them directly.

They added: "Any burglary is distressing but the theft of something as personal as a loved one's ashes is truly awful."

Sophie Edmondson Wooden mice carved into the urnSophie Edmondson
Hannah Aquarone was known by family as "Mouse" due to her height, which is why mice are carved on to the lid of the urn

Other items taken from the property included a TV, jewellery box and cleaning products.

Although Ms Edmondson remained hopeful the urn would be returned, she did not believe it would be likely.

She believed the urn was mistaken for something valuable like a jewellery box and the thieves would have quickly discarded it when they discovered what it was.

"The worst thought would be that they just dumped her somewhere on the side of a road; I dread to think where it is," she said.

Ms Edmondson has asked on social media for people to look out for the treasured possession.

She also requested that those who took it returned it to the farm.

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