A HEARTBROKEN mum has appealed for the return of irreplaceable photographs of her children after she was mugged as she walked to work.

Tracy Kyte has been left in pain and ‘absolutely petrified’ following the robbery of her handbag containing her only photos of her son and two daughters.

The 45-year-old was on her way to work at Tesco in New Milton when her bag was grabbed from behind and she was sent crashing into a bush. The mugging, which happened in Caird Avenue at around 10.10pm on Thursday, has left her too scared to return to work on the nightshift.

She added: “It could have been ten times worse - I don’t know if he had a knife or something like that.”

Miss Kyte, who lives with her nine-year-old son in Davis Field, said she is devastated at the loss of precious photos, including of her eldest girl Amy who died in a car accident in Turkey three years ago, and her younger daughter whom she now rarely sees.

“These pictures mean so much to me, I can’t replace them,” she added.

“They are of my son Michael when he was a baby, the first moment he was born, and when he had just started school, and of my daughters Amy and Jane.

“I have carried them around in my purse everywhere I go.

“I don’t care about the money or the bank cards or anything else, I just hope whoever took them has a conscious and will return them. Perhaps they have children of their own and can imagine how they would feel.”

The thief, described as standing around five feet and ten inches tall, of medium build, and wearing dark clothing and a hooded top, approached Ms Kyte from behind and shoved her into a bush during the assault, which occurred just outside her workplace, leaving her with a bruised and painful shoulder and neck.

He then made off in the direction of Lymington Road.

“Normally I would drive to work but I hadn’t been feeling well and took some medication which made me drowsy,” added Miss Kyte. “You don’t imagine something like this would happen here.”

The black leather handbag contained a pink chequered purse and inside that were the precious photographs.

On Friday Hampshire Police launched an appeal for witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to call Hampshire Police on 101, quoting ref 44150163092, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously.

Note: this story was edited at 14.44pm on May 18 to clarify that none of Miss Kyte's children are dead. The original story was based on two interviews, during which the Daily Echo was given incorrect information about Miss Kyte's children. Miss Kyte has apologised for any confusion.