A Brit has returned Pompeii relics that were stolen by his 'Uncle Bob' over 50 years ago.

Nephew Paul shipped five chunks of plaster from the walls of the ancient site back to the Pompeii Archaeological Park alongside an apology note and explanation.

Inside the wooden box containing the artefacts, a note read: 'These stones were taken from the site at Pompeii. Illegally by Uncle Bob'.

Paul had wrapped the box in bubble wrap to ensure the safety of the stones on their journey from Bolton to Naples after they had been stored in the attic of his uncle's Manchester home for over five decades. 

In images shared by the Pompeii Archaeological Site's Facebook page last week, another note can be seen left by Paul with the backstory of how Uncle Bob came to be in possession of the stones.

The second note read: 'Hi, I spoke to Sophie Hay about finding pieces of rock found in my great uncle Bob' attic, with a note stating he had stole them from Pompeii in the 70s. As promised, we have returned them back to you. Regards, Paul'.

This is not the first time someone has shipped back relics stolen from the ancient site. 

Grateful for the return, the Pompeii Archaeological Site explained the chilling reasons why many previous visitors decide to return their stolen artefacts.

Inside the wooden box containing the artefacts, a note read: 'These stones were taken from the site at Pompeii. Illegally by Uncle Bob'

Pompeii was destroyed after Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, covering the ancient city in volcanic ash, preserving it until it was rediscovered in the 16th century (file image) 

A guilty British man, named Paul, has returned Pompeii relics that were stolen by his 'Uncle Bob' over 50 years ago 

'Every now and then, packages arrive in Pompeii with stolen artifacts over the years, which visitors then decide to return. Some because they are victims of the so-called "curse of Pompeii", that "bad luck" that can strike those who steal artifacts, which pushes many tourists, after a while, to send back by mail what was taken from the site,' it said on Facebook.

Last year a tourist who stole pumice stones from Pompeii returned the artefacts along with a grovelling letter, claiming the pilfered fragments were 'cursed'.

The woman sent a package containing three small stones and a letter written in English saying she 'didn't know about the curse' of Pompeii when she stole the artefacts during a holiday in southern Italy.

The young tourist, who did not give her name, revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer within a year of her visit to Pompeii in the letter.

'I didn't know about the curse. I didn't know that I should not take any rocks,' the woman wrote. 'Within a year, I got breast cancer. I am a young and healthy female, and doctors said it was "just bad luck".'

'Please accept my apology and these pieces,' the tourist added, before signing off the letter with 'I'm sorry' in Italian.

In 2020, a Canadian woman, identified only as Nicole, sent a package containing two mosaic tiles, parts of an amphora and a piece of ceramics she had pilfered from Pompeii to a travel agent in the Italian city.

Nicole, who had stolen the artefacts in 2005, said she was returning them after they had given her 15 years of bad luck.

She wrote a letter of confession in which she detailed her theft and her subsequent run of misfortune, including two cases of breast cancer and financial hardship.

Nicole wrote: 'Please, take them back, they bring bad luck.'

She said she took the artefacts because she wanted to own a piece of history that no one else had, but they had 'so much negative energy... linked to that land of destruction'.

At the time, she said: 'I am now 36 and had breast cancer twice. The last time ending in a double mastectomy.

'My family and I also had financial problems. We're good people and I don't want to pass this curse on to my family or children.'

Her package also contained another letter of confession written by a couple from Canada who stole from the site in 2005.

She said they took the artefacts without thinking of those who suffered there thousands of years ago.

So many stolen relics have been returned to the site along with letters expressing guilt that officials at Pompeii set up a museum to display them. 

Some thieves have even tried to sell parts of Pompeii online, with a brick from the ruins appearing on eBay in 2015.

Paul had wrapped the box in bubble wrap to ensure the safety of the stones on their three-hour journey from Bolton to Naples after they had been stored in the attic of the Manchester home for over five decades