A FAMILY has been left ‘heartbroken’ after a wedding ring was lost in the sand on Weymouth beach.

The Allen family were holidaying in the resort over Easter when dad Mark lost the ring.

Mum-of-three Claire said her husband was taking off his socks when he felt the ring fly off his finger. The pair heard a ‘ping’ but it disappeared into the soft sand.

Now, the family are hoping that residents – particularly those who use metal detectors – keep an eye out for it, and get in touch if they find it.

Claire and Mark have been married for 12 years, but together for 25, since their university days. The family – including James, eight, Thomas, six, and four-year-old Rhys – live in Hilton, South Derbyshire.

It was their first visit to Weymouth, but despite being upset at the loss of the ring, Claire said it hasn’t put them off the area.

“Funnily enough, years ago when Mark was looking for work, he considered a job in Weymouth, and we nearly moved here, but the job wasn’t what he was looking for. Friends have visited and always say what a lovely place it is, so we decided to come for the Easter holidays.

“Dorset is so lovely, and it’s great for the kids. We had a fabulous time.”

They were enjoying a day out on the beach when the ring was lost, and Claire said they were adjacent to the King’s Statue, looking towards the sea when the ring flew off Mark’s finger somewhere to the left.

She added: “We were close to the tide line, because the kids wanted to build sandcastles, and we were sat on the softer sand a little up from them. Afterwards we tried to replicate what had happened with a two pence coin, to see if we could see from the trajectory where the ring might have ended up.

“The sand is so soft everything just sinks and disappears.”

Claire said her husband had ‘put on a brave face’ over the loss. 

“He said he misses the feeling of having it there, it’s been on his finger for 12 years. But it was heart-breaking really. We would be so grateful if anyone found it and got in touch with us.”

The ring is a plain gold band. Anyone who finds it is asked to email Claire.allen10@btinternet.com