KEITH NOLAN HAS taken to Facebook to express his gratitude after the stolen ashes of his partner and baby were returned.

A number of items were taken from his house in Waterford on Wednesday evening, including a chain and capsule that contained the ashes of his partner Lorraine and their unborn child.

Lorraine died when she was five months pregnant with the couple’s third child.

The appeal, which was shared over 14,000 times on Facebook, worked: the capsule was returned overnight.

Here’s what Keith posted earlier today:

First of all I want to say a massive thank you to everyone out there for your prayers very kind messages and media for sharing the post pleading for the return of ashes of Lorraine and baby.

Woke up to find the capsule in my hallway under letterbox in envelope, was a bit mucky but cleaned now and polished. Through research and help from the people of Tramore word was put out that I didn’t want names etc, just the ashes back.

I am delighted they are back where they should be :) And to the perpetrator, I hope you have learned a valuable lesson.

Keith said the chain, a Christmas present, was not returned but is “very easily replaced”.

Ashes are priceless to me. Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much x