A furious couple have been "emotionally torn to pieces" after priceless family heirlooms were mistakenly dumped from storage by Norwich City Council workers.

Christopher Yallop and his wife Toni live in William Mear Gardens and put their belongings in a nearby garage they were given access to by the council, near Mousehold House, in April last year after sinkholes appeared outside their home in January.

With Toni's health declining the couple were speaking to the city council about moving to a two-bed property.

However, after trying to enter the garage last week the pair received "gut-wrenching" news that all their items had been dumped.

Norwich City Council has apologised and is trying to find an "amicable resolution".

Mr Yallop, 54, said: "The city council gave us a key and we took the odd thing out once in a while but then last Thursday couldn't get in.

Mr and Mrs Yallop's belongings were held in garages such as this, in William Mear GardensMr and Mrs Yallop's belongings were held in garages such as this, in William Mear Gardens (Image: Google Maps)

"The locks had been changed and after calling the council we were told the garage was emptied and everything dumped in January because they 'didn't know who it belonged to'.

"We had so many family and wedding photos, things you just can't replace.

"There were priceless ornaments passed down from my mother and her mother.

"My wife had items from her parents as well, including pocket watches, bracelets and clothes from her father.

"As well as that we had brand new wardrobes, gardening tools and a mobility scooter - there had to be close to thousands of pounds worth of stuff in there.

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"It's gut-wrenching and has ruined our lives.

Christopher Yallop said the incident has been gut-wrenching and ruined our livesChristopher Yallop said the incident has been gut-wrenching and ruined our lives (Image: Christopher Yallop)

"Toni has been crying constantly since she found out and we feel as though we've been hung out to dry.

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"I can't believe for a second they didn't know who the items belonged to.

"We're both emotionally torn to pieces and we wonder how much more the council is willing to let us lose."

A city council spokesman said: "We apologise to the tenants at William Mear Gardens for any anxiety that this incident may have caused.

"We're currently investigating this case and will liaise directly with those affected to try and come to an amicable resolution."

Mr Yallop said there were priceless family heirlooms in the garageMr Yallop said there were priceless family heirlooms in the garage (Image: Christopher Yallop)