IRREPLACEABLE family photos of a seriously ill 10-year-old girl have been returned to her family after an appeal in the Lancashire Telegraph.

The photos, which were stored on a laptop, were among goods taken from the home of Sophie Micklethwaite by thieves on November 24.

Sophie’s parents, Alison and Andy, made a plea in the Lancahire Telegraph for the sentimental photos and video footage to be returned.

Police then received an anonymous tip-off and recovered the laptop from bushes in Woodbine Road.

Alison, 44, said: “The laptop looks damaged beyond repair but we have managed to salvage the hard drive which contains all the photos.

"It is fantastic news, we’re so happy.

“Everything else that was taken is just stuff, it can be replaced at some point, but this meant so much, it couldn’t be replaced.”

Little Sophie suffers from a rare blood deficiency, called Diamond Blackfan Anaemia, which meant she needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

But just days after returning home from the operation thieves struck at the Highfield Avenue home, in Burnley.

Police received the tip-off on Tuesday about 10.45pm and recovered the laptop shortly after.

As well as photos and videos the hard drive also contained vital GCSE coursework for Sophie’s 15-year-old sister Abbie.

Yesterday afternoon she travelled to Rotherham for more treatment in her recovery.

Alison said: “Her condition is slowly improving, and having the laptop returned has been a big boost for everyone.”