A pensioner has been left devastated after a purse containing a treasured picture of her late daughter went missing in Colne.
Freda Shields (91), from Trawden, was out shopping with her carer in North Valley Retail Park last Friday when the incident occurred between 11-33am and 12-24pm.
Mrs Shields had pulled her purse out to check her shopping list, but after dropping some change on the floor she is sure she put it back into her bag.
The purse, which contained a large amount of cash, a pacemaker, a bus pass and some courtesy cards, is described as being brown and oblong, with a press stud.
Mrs Shields, who used to live in Huddersfield, said: “When I got to the checkout my purse had gone. I was so shocked.
“I had a lot of money in it, which I don’t usually have, and I had a picture of my late daughter, who passed away 18 months ago. I used to carry that with me, and I miss that more than anything.”
Mrs Shields’s daughter Susan died at 52 years old, having had a severe disability throughout her life.
The picture shows her when she was five or six years old.
It is a black and white image, which shows Susan sitting down with her knees up, and a drink in her right hand. It was taken during a visit to Germany. She is wearing a sweater and a dress, and has her hair in a ponytail.
Mrs Shields added: “It would mean a lot to get the purse back. Even if the money isn’t there, it doesn’t matter.
“I have got a larger version of the picture but this was the original one that was taken.”
Police have confirmed that the incident, in North Valley Road, is being treated as theft.
They are appealing for anybody with any information on the purse to step forward.
Contact police on 101, quoting reference number FE1301360.