A distraught mother from Ramsgate has appealed for the safe return of her stolen memory stick, which contained precious photographs of her daughter who passed away earlier this year.

The laptop which had the photographs backed up on it was also stolen.

Rachil Jones, of Crescent Road, was in bed in the early hours of Sunday morning, as were her husband Taff and her two children, when an intruder broke into her property.

Among the items taken was a memory stick, carried inside a handbag, used to store pictures of her 11-week-old daughter Sian Myfanwy. The youngster was born with a neuromuscular disorder and was in hospital for most of her short life. She came home when life support was withdrawn but died a few days later.

Mrs Jones said: "I've walked along the road and looked in people's gardens and in Ellington Park to see if the bag has been ditched. I thought the person would have taken the money and thrown the rest away. It's of no value to them but means everything to us, which is what’s so distressing.

"I can deal with cancelling bank cards and changing locks but I'm finding the loss of the pictures and film very difficult."

The treasured images of Sian had been backed up on the family's silver Acer laptop, which was also taken, alongside a notebook that detailed Mrs Jones's pregnancy and the subsequent funeral arrangements and contained printed pictures of Sian.

Anyone with information should contact Kent Police on 01843 231055 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.