Olympians in medal theft heartbreak

Two of Britain's Olympic heroes have reportedly had their medals stolen just hours after the Queen hosted a glittering Buckingham Palace event to celebrate London 2012 athletes.

Rower Alex Partridge and hockey star Hannah Macleod took to social networking site Twitter to appeal for information to find their Olympic bronze medals which they believe were taken in the early hours of this morning.

Partridge, 31, who won bronze as part of the men's eight rowing team, tweeted that his Olympic blazer as well as his medal had been stolen from an event in Mayfair, central London.

Macleod, under the username @hannahmacleod6, also wrote on the site: "My medal was also stolen at the same time. Totally devastated."

Both athletes later published a photo of a man captured on CCTV who they wished to talk to about the alleged thefts.

Scotland Yard confirmed it was investigating reports of a stolen Olympic medal and blazer from an event in Mayfair. However, the force had not yet been contacted about a second stolen medal, a Metropolitan police spokesman said.

A host of Olympic and Paralympic stars had earlier been invited to the palace to mark their achievements along with the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Duchess of Cambridge, Prime Minister David Cameron and London 2012 chief Lord Coe.

A Met spokesman said: "An Olympic medal and blazer were reported stolen from a venue in Mayfair in central London. It was believed the items were taken between midnight and 5am on Wednesday, October 24."

Officers are continuing to investigate the incident but no arrests have been made, the spokesman added.

Macleod, 28, achieved bronze at London 2012 after Team GB's women's hockey team beat New Zealand to secure a medal.