THIEVES who plundered a house while the occupants slept upstairs took the family's memories among their haul.

The burglars struck in the early hours while Tracey Myatt, her husband Paul and their four children slept in the house on Maple Road, Farnworth.

The family found numerous items, including a video, camera, watch and camcorder had been stolen.

But most upsetting to the family was the loss of several camcorder tapes, featuring irreplaceable memories.

Tracey said: "While we can replace most of the other stuff stolen, the insurance does not cover the sort of memories we have on the video tapes. One features my daughter Victoria who disco dances at competitions. She is 12 now and the video charts her progress since she was nine. "Another shows a party we had for my father's 50th birthday recently, and there is also a tape recorded on this year's holiday to Bognor Regis. My son Adam's second birthday from last year is on a tape, as is my 15-month-old son Ryan just a few hours after he was born.

"The disco dancing tape was inside the camcorder and the others were in the holder which was also stolen.

"The tapes are not worth anything to anyone else, but are priceless to us. There are moments on it that cannot be replaced.

"I just hope that whoever stole them will have discarded them and I am appealing to anyone who may find them to return them to us. Either that, or for whoever has stolen them to get a twinge of conscience."

Police are investigating the burglary and anyone able to help trace the camcorder tapes should contact Farnworth police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Tracey said: "It was all very frightening to think the thieves were in the house particularly while my children were upstairs sleeping in their beds."

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