A SINGLE mother is pleading for an opportunist thief to return her daughter's Christmas shopping.

Kim Surtees and her 12-year-old daughter Amy were returning home from a shopping trip when one of Amy's bags was taken in Darlington town centre.

The pair, who live in Sadberge, had been in Middlesbrough on Friday, December 8, and were boarding the bus home from the market square at about 4pm.

When two buses pulled into the stop at the same time, one of Amy's shopping bags went missing during the confusion.

She said: "If someone has them please hand them into the police.

"But I don't live in much hope."

The bag contained an XBox computer game, web camera, clothing and Christmas lights worth a total of about £60.