The Barnett family of Somerfield Way, Shipley View where on holiday in Canada, where they plan to emigrate to, when they received a call to say their home had been burgled. When they returned home they discovered they had been 'cleaned out' with the intruders taking televisions, computers, cameras, a digital photo frame and even the hoover.

Gary Barnett said it is the photographs that were stored on the family pc that he is desperate to get back and is appealing for their safe return. He said: "They have stolen our memories. There were around 10,000 photos saved on the harddrive, including when the children were born. There is a chance that someone might see them and recognise them and hand them could hand them back to us.

He added: "We just want the pictures back, even if it's just the harddrive we get back. Whoever has got the computer will have seen the pictures. If we could have them back it would be nice."

The burglars got into the house by smashing a side window with a heavy boulder. The photographs were stored on a black Advent computer
Mr Barnett added: "No one heard anything. They took everything, police think they may have been coming back over a few days. They must have known we were on holiday. We have asked around but no one has seen or heard anything."

The burglary took place between September 26 and October 3.
If you have any information about this incident call police on 0845 123 3333 quoting crime reference number 61652.

If you have seen the pictures you can return them by contacting the Ilkeston Advertiser on 01159 446181.