A widow has pleaded for the return of her husband’s ashes after they were believed to have been stolen from a garage.

The family of Nigel Hill, who died from pancreatic cancer earlier this year at the age of 72, said they were hoping to scatter his ashes at a cricket club to fulfil one of his final wishes.

Greater Manchester Police has made a fresh appeal for information after power tools and Mr Hill’s ashes were taken in the burglary in Brandlesholme Road, Bury, on 19 September.

Susan Hill said she had lost her husband “a second time” and the burglary had left the family “heartbroken” and “devastated”.

She said: “Nigel’s ashes were in a mint green coloured box, inside a burgundy coloured tote bag.

“Nigel spent the majority of his time in the garage, he was a passionate handyman who would turn his hands to absolutely anything and loved spending time at his workbench.

“When we received Nigel’s ashes, we decided as a family that we would place them on his wooden workbench in the garage, as this is where he loved to be, and where he was his happiest.”

Mrs Hill said the family had been waiting for the end of the cricket season to scatter the ashes.

She said: “One of Nigel’s last wishes was that he wanted to have his ashes scattered at Woodbank Cricket Club.

“A place which held a special place in his heart, he loved spending time here.

“As a family, we decided that we would wait until the cricket season was over to scatter Nigel’s ashes, and now the season is over, we cannot fulfill his wishes as someone has stolen them from us.

“I am not interested in the return of the power tools, all I want is for my husband’s ashes to be returned to us, so as a family we can fulfil his last wish and lay him to rest.

“I have already lost my husband, and now I have lost him for a second time.”

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Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8222.

The independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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