A 13-year-old girl has made an emotional appeal for thieves to return two gold rings and a necklace given to her by her late grandmother.

Bethany Longmore was close to her grandmother, Maureen Aston, who died last month and said she was "really upset" when she realised the jewellery had been stolen while she was swimming at Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre.

The items taken were a gold clown necklace, a gold ring bearing an aquamarine stone and a gold ring with a cluster of blue stones, which the teenager described as irreplaceable.

They were in a secure locker at the leisure centre when they were stolen at around 7.30pm on Wednesday last week.

Bethany, who attends King Charles I High School, told the Shuttle/Times & News: "I was really close to my nan so they were very precious to me."

She added Mrs Aston was a Wyre Forest district councillor for Aggborough and Spennells and had bought her the necklace for her 13th birthday as a thank you for all the help she had given posting leaflets through doors in her constituency.

She added aquamarine was her birthstone and the ring bearing that stone had been a gift from her grandmother just before Christmas.

The other ring was taken off Mrs Aston's finger after she had died and given to Bethany.

The teenager said: "That was one of the last things my nan had on when she died and I just want it back because of its sentimental value." She added buying another one "just wouldn't be the same".

Anyone with information on the theft should contact Kidderminster police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offender.

General manager of the Glades leisure centre, Stuart Booton, said he hoped the story would prick the conscience of whoever stole Bethany's jewellery.

He added staff at the leisure centre did "everything they could" to prevent crime, including recently installing a new digital CCTV system, but there was not much that could be done to stop opportunist thieves.

"It's a big shame," he said, "We're very sympathetic to incidents like this and, fortunately, they are few and far between."