AN APPEAL has been launched to trace the family of a child after a ceramic photograph was taken from a grave site in Basingstoke.

Police arrested a 32-year-old man in Lower Brook Street last Thursday in connection with a warrant for failing to appear at court.

Officers found the man had slept in the Worting Road Cemetery the night before, and that he was in possession of a ceramic photograph of a baby that had been taken from one of the graves.

They have not been able to find the grave and are trying to identify it so that they can return the photograph to the family of the child.

PC Neil Plascott said: “The removal of this photograph will have undoubtedly caused tremendous distress to the family of this baby, and we would like to be able to return it to them swiftly.

“If you know someone who has had a ceramic photo of a baby stolen from a grave at Worting Road Cemetery over the past couple of weeks, please do ask them to contact us so we can ensure this precious item is returned to them.”

The 32-year-old man, from Basingstoke, has been bailed in relation to theft and other matters, pending further enquiries.