A LAPTOP containing hundreds of “irreplaceable photographs” of a little girl who died of cancer was taken during a burglary of her grandmother’s home.

Bernice Green was horrified when she realised an opportunist thief had stolen the laptop from her front living room as she lay in bed upstairs on Wednesday morning.

Mrs Green — who lost her granddaughter Jessica Green, aged six, to an aggressive brain tumour in April — is now appealing for the laptop to be returned.

The 54-year-old said: “I am absolutely distraught.

“That laptop contained six years worth of memories from holidays, birthdays and days out we’d had with Jessica.

“I know other people in the family have lots of photographs of her but these were different.

“They were ones of me and Jessica together — ones that can’t be replaced.

“When we realised it had been stolen, it felt like losing her all over again. The whole family is devastated by the whole thing.”

The burglar struck between 7am and 8am on Wednesday when her partner took their dog for its morning walk.

The front door of their house in Holly Street, Astley Bridge, was unlocked at the time and there were no signs of a break-in, say police.

When Mrs Green came downstairs, she realised the black Dell Inspire had gone.

“They must have seen my partner going out and spotted the laptop,” added Mrs Green. “I just want them to return it so I have the photos back. Even if they leave it on the doorstep, just please return it.

“I’d give anything to have it back because what’s on there can never be replaced.”

Brave Jessica was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma — an aggressive brain tumour — in March, 2011, aged just three.

Doctors told Jessica’s parents, Carl Green and Lisa McLoughlin, that they would not be able to operate on the tumour and gave the youngster just nine months to live.

Yet she went on to defy the odds and fight the terminal cancer for three years.

She started as a pupil at Mytham Primary School and was able to meet her baby sister Abigail.

It was not until November last year Jessica’s condition deteriorated and doctors confirmed the cancer had come back. She died surrounded by her family at Derian House Children’s Hospice, Chorley, on April 1.

Police have carried out door-to-door inquiries and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating this burglary.

“Anyone who is offered a laptop fitting this description at a discount price or saw anyone acting suspiciously near the address around the time of the burglary is urged to the police.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.