A HERO of perilous Second World War convoys has had his prized medal collection stolen.

Louis Isaac, 80, of Bewdley Hill, Kidderminster, has pleaded for the return of his medals and other family heirlooms worth more than £2,000. Louis Isaac, whose irreplaceable Second World War medal collection has been stolen.

They include the irreplaceable Russian Convoy Medal which was uniquely inscribed with his name - in Russian.

He said: "Whoever took this may not know its significance but it is very important to me. I can't exactly write to Josef Stalin and ask him for another one.

He added: "We went through a lot to earn those medals and they are something which cannot be replaced.

"You don't envisage them being stolen more than 50 years later."

Mr Isaac served for five years as a leading telegraphist on the corvette Bergamot and twice made the perilous run to Russia as well as escorting convoys in the Atlantic and Italian and African waters.

His home in Bewdley Hill was broken into on Saturday afternoon while he was at his antique shop Bric-a-Brac, New Road, Kidderminster.

Other medals taken were the 1939-45 Star, the Africa Star, the Italy Star, the Atlantic Star and the War Medal.

Prized family heirlooms taken include:

A distinctive 1847 silver snuffbox inscribed with the name of his great-grandfather William Isaac.

A half-sovereign given to his wife Sheila for her christening along with a plastic bag of gold rings and broken jewellery.

An early Victorian visiting card case in distinctive mother-of-pearl and a silver Vesta box, inscribed with the words "The Mount".

The vesta box was used to adorn the watch-chains of Victorian gentleman - not a word Mr Isaac would use to describe the raiders.

He said: "I really hope their consciences will be disturbed or if anyonecomes across these items, they do the decent thing and return them."

Mr Isaac believes the raiders used the tactics of Dickens' villain Bill Sykes in using a youngster to break in.

He said: "Apart from a broken transom window at the back of the house, there was little sign of a break-in

"It seems a youngster was used to get through the window to let the raiders in.

"One has to ask, does Kidderminster have its very own Bill Sykes?"

Mr Isaac is offering a reward for information leading to the return of goods or helping the police make an arrest.

Anyone with information should call Kidderminster Police on 01562 820888.