RARE coins stolen in a burglary four years ago have been reunited with their owner after being discovered dumped at the side of a road.

The coins and notes worth £600 were taken in a burglary in Bewdley, in July 2004.

The haul included two commemorative Silver Jubilee coins, two commemorative coins made for the Prince and Princess of Wales' wedding, two Winston Churchill coins, and a set of Commonwealth coins.

Also found dumped was a Krugerrand, a sovereign, a half sovereign, and five original uncirculated £2 coins, along with five new £1 notes.

The items were discovered in a red cash tin by a West Mercia Constabulary police officer who was walking in Rock, near Bewdley.

It is thought the haul was dumped by the offenders but it is not known how long the tin had lain undiscovered.

PC Tom Masters of Stourport Police, who reunited the coins with their owner, said: "She had given up all hope of seeing them again and very surprised but pleased to receive a phone call from us telling her they had been found.

"It was very nice to be able to give them back to her after all these years."