A grieving daughter has told of the ‘heartbreaking’ moment her mother’s 64-year-old wedding ring went missing, days before she died of stomach cancer.

Joyce Charlton, 84, would kiss the ring every night before going to bed, ever since her husband Rowland died of a heart attack in 1990.

Ms Charlton, who lived in Carshalton, also kept a framed picture of her late husband with her wherever she went, and snuggled up to one of his shirts as she slept.

When daughter Kay Church visited her at the Epsom and St Helier Hospital on October 19, the ring was still on her finger.

The following afternoon Ms Church noticed it was missing.

She said: "On the Sunday night my mother’s rings were loose, so (the nurse) asked- ‘can I take them off and give them back to you.’

"I said please tape them down, because I knew my mother never wanted to be without the wedding ring.

"When I came down to the hospital the next day, the ring had gone.

"I alerted staff and they turned the place upside down, but it couldn’t be found."

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Joyce Charlton died without the ring she had cherished for most of her life

Ms Charlton was given the 22 carat gold ring 64 years ago, and wore it everyday until the week before she died.

When she realised it was missing she broke down in tears.

Ms Church, who works as an administration assistant at the Royal Marsden Hospital, continued: "It was absolutely heartbreaking. She was devastated it was gone and I had to keep lying to her.

"She said-‘please bring it back.’ 

"My brother and I trawled every shop we could to find a replica.

"We found one, put it on her finger, and tucked it under the tape.

"My mother laid her hand over the tape, and I could see the comfort it gave her to believe that it was back."

Ms Church has reported the loss of the ring to Sutton police.

Joyce Charlton died in St Raphael’s Hospice in North Cheam on Tuesday, October 28.