A Bearsden family have been left devastated after their house was broken into and precious jewellery stolen little over a week before Christmas.

The victims, who did not wish to be named, are distraught after coming home on Friday to find the bathroom window pushed open and some of their belongings gone.

Those responsible made away with a number of pieces of jewellery with significant sentimental value, as well as some cash.

One of the victims said: "We are both devastated and we can't believe this has happened before Christmas.

"Christmas can be a very difficult time of year for some and this has just made it so much worse.

"All of the jewellery that was stolen means so much to me and has such a sentimental value that I am just praying that we can get it back."

After finding their house ransacked, the family reported the incident, which took place between 1pm and 4pm on Friday in Bearsden, to police.

In stealing the jewellery and other items the thieves also damaged sets of drawers upstairs after largely ignoring the contents of the ground floor.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "Police received reports of a theft by housebreaking in Bearsden around 4:30pm on Friday.

"Our enquiries are ongoing."

As important as the stolen, the family has felt enormous stress having to go through this ordeal.

They said: "I have been staying with my sister as it is too difficult to be there at the moment.

"I have phoned as many shops as I could over the weekend to give them information and hopefully that will help.

"The support has been amazing and I have had people I don't even know sending me pictures of jewellery but unfortunately none of it has been mine.

"I hope that what we have gone through will make people more aware of the dangers out there."