A couple have donated a historic item from their own collection to a WWII exhibition after relics were stolen from a newly discovered air raid shelter.

Val and Tony Tait, of Wallington, were shocked to hear thieves had removed a skip placed over the entrance of the shelter in Carshalton Park, before going inside and taking an earthenware bottle.

The WWII air raid shelter, which protected hundreds of people from German bombs, was discovered after a hole opened up in the park in January.

Sutton Council has been planning an exhibition about the shelter, and people's memories of it, to take place in the Honeywood Museum after it reopens later this year.

Council historians believed the bottle would not be exhibited, after it was stolen.

But they were delighted when Mr and Mrs Tait, 71 and 68, who had read about the theft in this newspaper, came forward to offer to replace the stolen item with their own bottle.

Former Stanley Park High School caterer Mrs Tait said: "It's such a shame that someone has stolen something like. What good will it do anyone?"

"We realised we could do something to help as we had an identical bottle which we could donate."

The retired couple found the bottle, which dates back to 1934-35, when they took down their shed in 23 years ago in Queenswood Avenue.

It had been stored ever since on a kitchen shelf.

Councillor Ruth Dombey, deputy leader of Sutton Council, said: "I’m truly touched by the generosity and community spirit of Mr and Mrs Tait. The original jug was a piece of Sutton’s community history, and it’s lovely that its replacement is an example of the close-knit, engaged community that we’re lucky enough to have here in Sutton."

The theft took place depsite the area around the shelter being cordoned off by metal fences and a skip being placed over the entrance.

Officers have instructed a company to now construct and install a lockable metal cover to stop people going inside.