
Thanks to some determined staff at the island’s recycling centre, a Guernsey woman has been reunited with her lost wedding and engagement rings.
Katie Thomas removed her rings while decluttering her house last week.
Panic ensued a couple of days later when she could not find the custom silverware.
She recalled taking a black bag to the Longue Hougue recycling centre and says her heart sank.
"I thought there was no way I'd ever see those rings again.
"It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. There are hundreds of black bags there and two tiny rings to find; it seemed impossible.
"I felt sick and so upset because there is huge sentimental value, and they were going to be gone forever."
Feeling defeated, Katie called the waste centre to see what they could do.
The team scanned CCTV to see where she had dropped the bag, and emptied an entire container.
They were able to identify her black bag from the pile because she had placed two smaller white bags inside.
At home, Katie emptied the contents and was delighted to see her engagement and wedding rings again.
Katie delivered a tray of doughnuts to the Longue Hougue and called the team heroes.
"I can’t express enough gratitude to everyone who went above and beyond to help me.
"The amazing staff at Guernsey Waste worked tirelessly.
"Their kindness, determination, and good humour turned what could’ve been a heartbreaking loss into an unbelievable happy ending."
Katie says, upon reflection, she suspects three-year-old Phoebe may have accidentally put the rings in the bin, and she has been very careful with them ever since.
The family: Dan, Phoebe, Owen and Katie.