A desperate Camborne family are appealing for the safe return of their camera memory card, which contains precious pictures that cannot be replaced.

Martyn Dauthtery, from Willow Drive, contacted the Packet in a last ditch attempt to recover the pictures, which were contained on a card in the family's camera that was lost on Saturday.

Mr Dauthtery said he was not so concerned about the actual camera - a gold-coloured Sony Cyber-shot in a black case - but was desperate to get the memory card back, as they contained 149 photographs of his two sons, seven-year-old Ryan and five-year-old Kieran, at Twickenham.

The family had travelled to see the Cornish Pirates win the National Trophy against the Exeter Chiefs and the boys were lucky enough to have their photos taken with their favourite players and holding the trophy.

However, disaster struck on Saturday at Camborne Rugby Club - where the two boys play rugby for the under sevens and under eights teams - when Mr Dauthtery's wife put down the camera to help her sons take off their boots at around midday.

It was not until some twenty minutes later that she realised she had not picked up the camera again and although the family rushed back to where she had left it, the camera had gone. Despite announcements over the club's tannoy system, the camera has not been returned.

Mr Dauthtery said: "It just means so much to my kids and my wife. My wife is just breaking her heart. She and the kids have been in tears about it. If we can just get the pictures back it would make up for it. If anybody has got it, please just send the memory card - it would be a big bonus for the family."

Mr Dauthtery can be contacted on 01209 717020 or the card can be sent to his home at 21 Willow Drive, Camborne, TR14 7HR. Alternatively, the card can be sent to the Packet offices at Falmouth Business Park, Bickland Water Road, Falmouth, TR11 4SZ, from where it can be forwarded to the family.