Gardaí have issued an appeal after an engagement ring was found in a charity collection bucket in Co Mayo.
The ring was discovered by Robert Hunt, a volunteer for Mayo Mountain Rescue, as he emptied a collection bucket in Westport on Saturday.
Mr Hunt said yesterday it was an unusual discovery.
“In my three years collecting for Mayo Mountain Rescue I’ve never come across anything like it.
“Amongst all the coins as they spilled from the bucket on to the coin counter I spotted something sparkling.
“It was glittering and shining. I knew immediately that I had hit on something that wasn’t supposed to be in the bucket.”
Mr Hunt said gardaí had asked him not to give an exact description of the ring in case somebody other than the rightful owner tries to claim it.
However, he said there was no doubt it was valuable.
“We have had the ring checked out with a jeweller and it’s the real thing alright, quite precious,” he said.
Gardaí in Westport are appealing for information that might lead to the owner being traced.
They can be contacted at 098-25555.