A bride whose hand-made engagement ring was stolen on her wedding day has enjoyed a "fairytale ending" to the saga after being given an exact replica by a kind-hearted jeweller - just in time for Christmas.

Caroline Granshaw was left "heartbroken" when a callous thief swiped her handbag containing the sapphire and diamond-encrusted platinum band from a secluded church at her nuptials in June.

Despite a £1,000 reward the stolen ring has still not been tracked down, but jeweller Ashraf Ahmed was so moved by the couple's plight he has given them an identical ring.

The bride's delighted family hailed his generosity as a "fairytale ending in this season of goodwill".

Mrs Granshaw said: "I am truly overwhelmed by Mr Ahmed's generosity. It's been a difficult time as it cast a shadow over our wedding day but I'm thrilled with my new ring and I can't thank him enough."

The bride was left in floods of tears when she discovered her engagement ring had gone just minutes after she tied the knot with James Granshaw.

The £6,000 ring was lovingly hand-designed by her husband at an ethical London jewellers, and the couple said it was of "priceless" sentimental value.

British-born Mr Ahmed spotted an article about the theft while passing through Hong Kong airport and was so upset he made an offer to replace the ring with a royal blue Sapphire stone selected from his jewel collection in Ratapura, Sri Lanka.

His design team carefully set it in platinum with diamonds to match the original design, which was painstakingly drawn up by Mr Granshaw, 29, a qualified barrister and legal adviser at Waverley Borough Council.

Mr Granshaw's father Mervyn, a retired airline pilot from Guildford, said the family were distraught following the theft at the parish church of St Peter Ad Vincula in Wisborough Green, West Sussex.

But the jeweller's generosity has meant the couple have a "fairytale ending in this season of goodwill".

He said: "This week the ring was delivered to James and I now have a very happy daughter-in-law again with a beautiful ring back on her finger. We are delighted."