Burglars raided the home of comedian Eric Morecambe's 89-year-old widow as she was unveiling a new statue tribute to her late husband.

Thieves broke into Joan Bartholomew's home in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, stealing watches and jewellery worth thousands of pounds.

Her family believe thieves targeted her home when they learned she would be away through social media.

Ms Bartholomew's home was targeted last Friday whilst she was in Blackpool, Lancashire, celebrating a new sculpture of Morecambe and Wise with her son and daughter.

Her son, Gary, believes the "power of social media" may have alerted thieves to the empty house.

"There wasn't masses of damage", he said.

"My mum is a very realistic person, she doesn't like to make herself into a victim. It's just the way it is.

"I guess that's the power of social media, they must have known she was away".

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said the burglary was reported to them on Saturday when Ms Bartholomew returned home.

The new statue of Morecambe and Ernie Wise, who died in 1999, was built to celebrate the pair's first appearance on stage together 75 years ago in 1941.

Morecambe died in 1984 aged 58 from a heart attack.