THEY ARE the precious wedding party photographs a heartbroken Hampshire couple thought had been lost forever.

Newlyweds Mark and Alexandra Fane were left devastated after hundreds of irreplaceable images of their union were stolen during the reception.

But heartbreak has turned to joy after their plea for the pictures to be returned apparently pricked the thief’s conscience.

An envelope marked “stolen wedding photos” has been handed in and passed on to the couple, who were overjoyed to receive the precious package.

As reported in the Daily Echo, a Canon 5D Mark III and its memory card were stolen from a marquee at the couple’s home at Upper Burgate, near Fordingbridge, on September 10.

The theft was discovered shortly after a group of gatecrashers had been asked to leave the reception.

Now Mark and Alex have been reunited with the all-important images.

Alex, 54, said: “We feel very lucky to have our precious memory card back - our faith in human kindness has been much restored.

“We never really believed we would get the card back but hoped we might and made as much effort as we could think to try to locate it and/or exert pressure on the individuals who took the camera.

“We would urge this person not to steal anything again but to find help, either from their family or from a counsellor.

“Stealing is an illness or often a means of funding addiction. There’s obviously good in this person so we’d like to say please put the bad days behind you.

“It goes without saying that it would be really great if he or she could also return the camera.”

Speaking shortly after the theft Alex said: “Mark and I were devastated when we realised the camera had been taken - it was a violation.

“The memory card means nothing to the person who took it - they’ve probably thrown it in a bin - but it means everything to us.

“If they’ve still got it I hope they’ll have a heart and return it.”

The camera belonged to a professional wedding photographer from London. She slipped it under a table that was covered by a full-length cloth, but when she returned 15 minutes later it had gone.

Alex added: “The table was quite close to the bar and was surrounded by a lot of people.

“It looks as if someone saw the photographer put the camera down and decided to help themselves.

“Maybe they didn’t realise who it belonged to and what it was being used for.”