AN Atherton mum is appealing for the return of the stone bench snatched from her front garden on Sunday evening.

Wendy Plumbley, of Wigan Road, was stunned to discover the heavy, grey stone seat had vanished while the family was in the house.

Now she is calling on anyone who is offered the curved bench for sale, or who sees one suddenly appear in a garden, to contact police.

Wendy said: "I have a few matching stone ornaments in the garden, including a bird bath, planter and the seat, which was lifted between 9pm and 11pm. "I couldn't believe it when I discovered the theft. One person couldn't have nipped in and taken it, it was too heavy.

"I was sitting in the front room for most of the evening where I can see out of the window. When I went to bed at 11pm, I looked down from the upstairs window and saw the bench had gone.

"It was mostly used by my sons Andrew, 13, and Stephen, 11, and can be recognised by the patterned stumps and edge.

"Even if I don't get it back, I want to make it difficult for the thieves to sell it."