A SENTIMENTAL photograph of a woman and her two children which she gave to her late husband while he was serving as a soldier in Italy has been stolen by a callous pickpocket.

The 90-year-old Darlington woman believes her purse, containing the irreplaceable picture, was stolen by a sneak thief in a supermarket on Thursday.

The picture was taken more than 60 years ago and was a keepsake for the woman’s husband, who served as a soldier in Italy after the end of the Second World War.

On the photograph was his wife and their little boy and girl. Both the man and the couple’s son have since died.

He brought the photograph back from his service and his widow has kept it in her purse ever since.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, had been shopping in Morrisons supermarket, in North Road, Darlington, on Thursday lunchtime.

At 1.10pm, she sat down outside the cafe area of the supermarket and spoke to another shopper, who asked her for a mint.

It was only after she left the store that she realised her purse had gone missing. She suspected it was taken by the other woman.

The woman’s daughter said: “It was sent to my dad in Italy.

He brought it back home and she has had it in her purse for years and years.

“She is more upset about that than the money and she would like the photograph back.

“All they have to do is push it back through the police station letterbox.

“She is obviously very upset. It is awful to do this to someone who is 90 years old.”

PC John Forster, of Darlington police, said: “The photograph has a lot of sentimental value. It was stolen with the purse. Even the most hideous of drug users would not want to destroy it, but they will probably just fling it without realising. The photograph is irreplaceable.”

Also in the purse was £165 and the woman’s bank cards.

Police would like to speak to the other shopper. She is described as being between 20 and 30, of medium build and about 5ft 5in. She was wearing a yellow, hooped jumper.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0345-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.