A MOTHER has made an emotional appeal to a thief to return a lock hair belonging to her daughter who died suddenly at the age of two.

Ellie Louise Baldwin tragically died in 2013 after being diagnosed with bronchial pneumonia.

The treasured lock was taken when a thief opened her car door to grab Kirsty Baldwin's handbag.

The theft happened last Wednesday, at around 10.30pm when the 35-year-old got into her car at the Eastbound services and put her handbag on the passenger seat.

Before she was able to lock her doors or drive away, a man opened the passenger door and took the handbag.

He then got into another car, with a woman at the driving seat, and drove away from the services.

Part of the number plate of the car, which is described as a small, dark grey/black vehicle in poor condition, is either EE55, EE54 or EE52.

The man is described as white with unkempt hair.

The woman in the getaway car is also described as white, between 40 and 50-years-old, with long, dark hair, which was tied up.

She is said to be around 5ft 7in tall and haggard looking.

The designer handbag contained an iPad, a large amount of cash in Euros, a purse containing a memorial card and the most treasured item that’s been taken; a lock of blonde hair that belonged to

Ellie Louise Baldwin who died six years ago.

Making an appeal for the items to be returned, Kirsty said: “Our daughter died unexpectedly of bronchial pneumonia and the lock of hair is all we had left of her apart from the clothes she had the night she died.

“Please, if anyone finds the lock shown in the picture, please do the right thing and hand it in to your nearest police station. Thank you.”

Police Constable Cherie Castle of GMP’s Rochdale District, added: “Robbery in any circumstance is particularly distressing but Kirsty and her family have been left devastated.

“The hair is such a precious item that cannot ever be placed and she’s desperate it’s returned to her.

“We’re hoping the offenders or whoever has any information about this robbery hear this story and return the hair as soon as possible.”

Anyone who has any information about the robbery should call police on 0161 856 8457 quoting incident number 2519 of 20/03/19.

Details can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.