A FORDINGBRIDGE councillor and former special police constable who had her long service medal stolen has been presented with a new one.

Cllr Ann Sevier, who is the New Forest District councillor for Fordingbridge, received the medal for her service as a special constable for Hampshire Constabulary, which was taken during a burglary on September 20 last year.

And last week she was presented with a replacement medal by Chief Inspector Robert Mitchell at Lyndhurst Police Station.

Miss Sevier, who was a special constable for 20 years, said: “I was very touched that they should be so kind as to replace it.”

Special constables are unpaid volunteers who have the same powers as regular police.

Speaking after the medal was taken last year she said: “The reward for a special constable after nine years is the long service medal.

“My medal holds all the memories of my 20 years’ service and I am very sad to have had it stolen.”

Chief Inspector Mitchell, who is the New Forest District Commander, said: “Ann Sevier served the communities of Fordingbridge and the wider New Forest for 20 years as a Special Constable with Hampshire Constabulary and was a very popular member of the team.

“Ann was awarded a long service and good conduct medal in recognition of that service and it was very sad to learn of its theft during a burglary last September.

“Since retiring from the Constabulary, Ann has continued to serve her community as a district councillor for Fordingbridge, which just underlines her commitment to public service. Organising a replacement for her loss was the right thing to do and it was an opportunity for me to show the continued appreciation of Hampshire Constabulary.”