yesterday they would be returning to Bermuda from England.

Mike Stewart and his wife, Ann, told The Royal Gazette they were coming back voluntarily at their own expense.

Said Mr. Stewart: "All I and my wife demand and expect is fair and unbiased treatment.'' In April it emerged more than $6,000 had gone missing from Front Street's A.S.

Cooper's.

The disappearance was reported to the store's security firm, Island Wide Security, which discovered a female guard, Mrs. Stewart, and her husband had left Bermuda.

The Royal Gazette yesterday received a letter from the couple who are in England.

In it, Mr. Stewart said: "... this letter is written to confirm that I and my wife will be returning to Bermuda of our own free will and at our own expense and we are not being deported from England.'' He added: "I am Bermudian, a born Bermudian, brought up in England and for over 40 years lived in England not knowing Bermuda and its beauty etc. I will return of my own accord.'' The letter continued: "I have been working with an officer of the Salvation Army in Bermuda in whom I have absolute trust and faith, with the sole intention of returning voluntary (sic) without causing any expenses to anyone except ourselves.

"I have spoken via telephone to our former landlady and one other lady, both of unimpeachable respect and backgrounds in Bermuda and they, too, are aware of our intentions and circumstances. We have trust in them both.'' Mr. Stewart went on to state his wife of 21 years was from Glasgow, Scotland.

He said he and his wife had started a small collection shortly after the massacre in Dunblane, Scotland, in which children were shot dead by a crazed gunman.

The collection was done via their church, with the money going to the minister there, he added.

"All monies was duly sent to Dunblane and a receipt from Dunblane was received.'' Yesterday, Island Wide's president, Bill Black, said he had traced the Stewarts to the Leeds area of England while in the country on business.

"I have had no communication with them, other than speaking to them on the phone,'' he said.

Mr. Black said the money from the store was still missing.

"The matter is in the hands of the Police.'' Earlier this year, Mr. Black said Mrs. Stewart had worked for the firm for about two years, receiving many commendations for her work.

"To me she was in the top bracket,'' said Mr. Black.

"We have been in business for 26 years and this is the first time anything like this has happened to us. We are completely baffled,'' he added. Yesterday Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning said: "We are aware that the couple are making an effort to return here on their own accord. The investigation is still open and they will be interviewed on their return.''