Children uncover 'treasure' in village graveyard
THREE children's search for conkers turned out to have all the hallmarks of an Enid Blyton adventure when they discovered what they thought was treasure in a village near Ripon.
Georgia Kitching, nine, and her brother Ethan, eight, along with their friend, Natasja Hodgkinson, nine, were looking in the graveyard of St Mary's Church, in Wath, when their pet dogs, Harry and Rascal, uncovered the find.
The three youngsters, who all attend Burneston Primary School, near Bedale, investigated and discovered a horde of items from the 1920s, including opera glasses, old games in fine walnut casings, and a small beaded metal purse.
Thrilled by the find, the youngsters rushed up to tell Georgia and Ethan's mother, Dawn Cooper, who was coming to collect them for their teas, about the discovery.
'excited'
"They were very excited and thought there had been a crime. They said, 'Look, we've found treasure!'," said Miss Cooper.
The children wanted the area cordoned off and for the police to be called. Instead, Miss Cooper took the items home and telephoned the police from her house.
When the police came to collect the items the next day, an officer thanked the children and informed them the items had been stolen from a home in the village and could now be returned to their rightful owner.
"I'm really proud of the three of them," said Miss Cooper. "They wanted to get in touch with the police straight away and do the right thing."
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Weather for Ripon
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
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