AFTER more than forty years of marriage they thought they’d seen everything.

But after a fire destroyed their home, Lavinia and Roger Hamer thought there was one thing they’d never see again.

Lavinia’s engagement ring, a ruby encrusted gold band specially commissioned by artist husband Roger was one of many priceless items stripped from the couple after a fire engulfed their home last year.

The blaze gutted the Hamers’ home on West Street, Harwich, as well as four others, on December 7.

The five families were left with only the clothes on their backs.

Or so they thought.

Builders have scrambled through rubble to reunite the Hamers with sentimental items, including Lavinia’s one-off ring.

“I am amazed,” Lavinia said.

“I don’t know how they managed to find it. It was in a shrivelled jewellery box in a burnt out dressing table and I thought it was gone forever.

“But inside the box the ring was perfect."