A GRANDMOTHER is appealing for the return of a painting of a stately home which was stolen more than 50 years ago.

Marion Sturman, originally from Ferryhill, spent just over a year on a teacher training course at Wynyard Hall following her wartime service in the ATS.

Her specialist subject was art and for her main project she chose to sketch the frontage of the hall, signing it with her former name, Marion Hatfield, and dating it 1949-1950.

Mrs Sturman, whose beauty queen granddaughter Louise Lakin is the reigning Miss Great Britain Universe, now lives in Middlesex and would dearly love the painting to be returned.

She said: "I carefully sketched every detail, taking months of hard work, so you can imagine my feeling of horror when I returned to my room after a weekend break to find my completed watercolour painting had been stolen. It was heartbreaking."

Mrs Sturman, 82, believes the 36ins by 15ins painting may be stored away in somebody's attic.

She added: "I often wonder who stole it and where it is now. I spent 13 very happy months at Wynyard Hall, only for it to be marred by such a selfish act which robbed me of the chance to hand in my main art project."

Mrs Sturman still retains strong links with Ferryhill. Her daughter Beryl was born there and granddaughter Louise is hoping to visit the town.

Anyone with any information on the painting can contact Mrs Sturman on (01740) 5734693 or 07787 334387.