Isle of Wight former heptathlete Kelly Sotherton is to feature in an appeal on BBC1's Crimewatch programme for her Commonwealth Games gold medal.

Burglars ''ransacked'' the lower floor of the retired athlete's home in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, last month, taking more than a dozen medals and other personal items.

The thieves broke into the 38-year-old's house between 10.30pm on February 17 and 7.30am on February 18 by forcing open a rear door.

A gold medal won by the British heptathlete and 400m sprinter at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games was stolen in the raid, along with nine ''AAA'' British medals and around six gold Island Games medals.

Sotherton and her family, who were asleep at the time of the burglary, discovered that various electronic and personal items, including an Apple Mac computer, an iPad mini, an iPod nano, Ralph Lauren prescription glasses, Dr Dre wireless headphones and a Beats speaker, had been taken.

Detectives investigating the burglary believe the thieves may have broken in to search for keys to an Audi car parked outside.

Speaking after the burglary, Sotherton, who retired in 2012, said: ''Considering they came for something else and left with something that took years to earn is upsetting.

''I'm thankful no one was harmed but still mentally it's hard. Knowing someone has been in your house uninvited while you are asleep upstairs is really unnerving.

''We no longer feel safe in our home. That's what burglars do, whatever they take - disrupt people's lives for really only a few pounds.''

Anyone who has been offered the medals or other stolen goods is urged to call Birmingham North Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.