THIEVES have robbed a war hero of his only picture of the love of his life.

For nearly 60 years, 86-year-old bachelor Gordon Lee kept his priceless photo of Josie Godleit in his wallet and carried it with him everywhere he went.

She was the love of his life and, despite losing contact with her more than half a century ago, he never went on to marry or settle down with anyone else.

Mr Lee fell victim to conmen after they tricked their way into his home pretending they had a parcel for him.

When he realised his mistake, the Second World War veteran confronted the pair, but they pushed him into a chair and rummaged through his pockets before running off with his wallet and the picture of Josie inside.

Last night, Mr Lee, of Thornaby, near Stockton, was too upset to talk about his ordeal.

A private in both the Royal Artillery and the Royal Hampshire Regiment during the Second World War, Mr Lee met Josie in Vienna, Austria, during its occupation by Britain.

Their love affair lasted three years until he was posted back to Britain to be demobbed.

Me Lee, a former British Steel worker, was attacked in his home at about 4.30pm on Friday.

The Northern Echo's Doorstoppers campaign is calling for new legislation to stop bogus callers and door-to-door salespeople.