Diamond ring returned to owner - with a little help from the Express

The Express also played an important role in getting the ring back because the owner only discovered it had been found after an appeal in last weeks' paper.

Gaynor Warren lost the ring just after Christmas and feared the worst.

She said: 'I lost it on December 30 and I really don't know how.

'I turned the house upside down but I couldn't find it.

'I was frantic, it was an eternity ring which had seven diamonds, it's probably worth about 2,000 but obviously it's worth more to me in sentimental value.'

Fortunately, the ring was found on the same day in Western Road and handed in a few days later.

However, Mrs Warren's original call to the police was put through to officers in Hove and when the ring was handed in to Lewes Police Station there were no reports of it being lost.

Luckily the Express came to the rescue and published an appeal for the owner to get in touch with the police in Lewes.

One of Mrs Warren's friends spotted the appeal and told her what had happened.

She said: 'As soon as I heard it was found in Western Road I knew it was mine.

'I was so thrilled when I found out for sure, and I was so grateful the person handed it in.

'The police wouldn't give me their details because of data protection but I've passed on a thank you card and a small reward.

'I wouldn't have found out it had been handed into the police without the Sussex Express so thank you too.'

Lewes police Inspector Viv Johnson praised the honesty of the person who found the ring.

She said: 'This is good news, the ring was really valuable both in terms of money and sentimental value.

'A lot of credit should go to the person who found it, and not only noticed such a small item but then did the right thing by reporting it to the police.'