A BRIDEGROOM and his new wife returned from their York wedding reception to find they had been burgled.

Colin Hargreaves and his bride Rie's big day was spoiled by the intruder, who stole cash, credit cards, a digital camera, musical equipment and tools from their ground-floor flat at Bedale House, in The Groves.

The burglar used a stone to smash a window, and there was broken glass everywhere, including the top of the couple's wedding cake which had been brought back to the flat hours earlier.

"My wife was very upset, and now she doesn't like being left alone in here, even though I have installed a burglar alarm and panic button, and replaced the locks," said Mr Hargreaves, 40.

He said he and Rie, 29, had cancelled their planned honeymoon in the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District after the burglary, which happened last Saturday evening, and spent the past few days sorting out the flat. He said the total cost of the damage and lost property came to about £1,200.

Mr Hargreaves added that, when he had returned from the reception at 10.50pm on Saturday, a neighbour told him she had already called police about 50 minutes earlier, but officers had still not arrived.

When he himself rang police, they apologised, saying they had been dealing with a busy Saturday night and said they would be round shortly, which they were.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York police, said it had been a busy evening, coming just after York City's home game against Hull City, but police had attended the flat shortly after the call had been made by Mr Hargreaves.

Mr Hargreaves appealed to anyone who saw someone entering the property, or behaving suspiciously in the area last Saturday night, to phone PC Rachael Thewlis on 01904 631321. He offered a reward of £100 to anyone who could provide information leading to the conviction of the offender.

Updated: 11:39 Friday, January 03, 2003