A FIRST World War hero's military medals have been stolen from a museum by a sneak thief.

Acting Sergeant S. Kendall's campaign honours disappeared last Thursday from the stairwell wall at the Wellington Barrack's Fusilier Museum in Bolton Road, Bury.

They had been placed in a frame around the Bury soldier's picture. The frame, including the portrait photograph, was recovered from the toilets minus the three victory medals.

Sergeant Kendall's name is imprinted around the leading edge of each medal which are together valued at £550.

Museum curator Colonel Mike Glover said: "It would appear a man has entered the museum, taken the framed medals from the wall and removed them from the frame in the toilets before leaving.

"We have notified war medal collectors and dealers to their disappearance which will make them impossible to sell on. I believe, however, the thief has taken the medals for his own personal collection."

The medals stolen are the Military Medal, the Allied Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

The Military Medal was awarded to Acting Sergeant Kendall for his part in the battle of Courtrai. He had been involved in the last 100 days of the First World War when the Allied forces advanced on the German-held trenches to ultimately bring an end to the conflict.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the stolen medals should contact Bury police on (0161) 872 5050. Alternatively, they can be returned anonymously to Wellington Barracks.