A MOTHER whose baby died of meningitis has been left heartbroken after a thief stole a locket containing a curl of her daughter's hair.

Mary Freeman today appealed to the thief to return the treasured memento which also contained a picture of 22-month-old Natalie taken days before she died.

Mrs Freeman said the locket was the only "real piece of Natalie" she had left.

It was one of a number of items -- including Mrs Freeman's wedding ring -- stolen from her family home in Darcy Lever.

She said she felt as if she had lost her baby all over again and that it brought fond memories of her flooding back.

The one-inch oval locket was connected to a chain which Mrs Freeman had worn for six years, removing it only when she took a bath. It had been placed in a jewellery box in the kitchen.

Video game consoles, clothes and a new camcorder containing footage of the couple's grandchildren were also taken. Mrs Freeman, aged 39, said: "The locket was the most perfect little thing -- it was a real piece of Natalie.

"You can never get over a child dying and the locket was our reminder."

Natalie contracted and died of meningitis within 24 hours on October 28, 1991.

Mrs Freeman and her and 42-year-old husband John said the locket was their most treasured possession.

She fears the jewellery may already have been melted down, destroying their hopes of finding it.

It is made of nine carat gold with silver flowers lining its edge. It also has a slight dent.

The couple have been broken into on several previous occasions.

Their son, John, now aged 15, contracted meningitis a year after Natalie's death but survived.

Mrs Freeman said: "They just ransacked the place and seemed to have no thought for us.

"We just want the locket back."