A MOTHER whose bag was taken after she left it in the Town Gardens, in Old Town, is urging people to keep an eye out for her jewellery.

Claire Haynes, 31, of Taw Hill, put her bag down in the sunken garden to take her three-year-old son to the toilet last Monday but when she went back for it it had gone.

It was later handed into Nationwide in the town centre because her Nationwide pass book was in the bag, But a necklace and bracelet which had her children’s fingerprints and handprints printed on them had been taken out, as well as her purse and mobile phone.

“The main thing was the necklace and the bracelet, which my children gave me for my 30th birthday,” she said.

“I wasn’t worried about the purse or the phone.

“ I’m not bothered about the other stuff.

“We even sent a text message to my phone saying ‘take everything but please hand the necklace and bracelet in.’”

The necklace is thick and heavy silver, and had two hearts on with two fingerprints, with the names Ruby and Oscar.

The bracelet had flowers on and handprints with Ruby and Oscar on the back and a message which said “Happy 30th Birthday.”

They were in her bag because she was taking them to be mended.

Claire, who is a mobile hairdresser, has been to gold and silver dealers across the town but has not had any luck and she is asking people to keep an eye out for the jewellery.

“After I realised my bag was no longer where I thought it was we were in the Town Gardens asking if people had seen it for two hours,” she said.

“My son said to me ‘don’t worry mummy, you can have my Lightning McQueen bag.’”

Claire’s purse was black and was made by Ted Baker and the phone was a Blackberry.

She left the bag, which is grey and knitted with snowflakes on, in the sunken garden at about 11am on March 19.

She left it in a secluded spot and forgot it was there because Oscar ran to see one of Claire’s friends.

She has since ordered a new necklace and bracelet which are similar but she is keen to get the originals back.

Anyone who has seen any of the items or saw anyone with the bag should phone Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.