A couple have pleaded for the return of a stolen videotape that has irreplaceable footage of their newborn baby being brought home for the first time.

Maddie Marshall, 27, and her boyfriend Antony Hollis, 29, had been enjoying a winter break in Florida with their four-month-old son Frankie.

But they came back to find that a house they are renovating in Laburnum Crescent, Kidlington, had been raided.

The intruders had broken a window and smashed a door to gain entry, but the only thing the couple found missing was a hand-held Panasonic camcorder in a black leather case belonging to Ms Marshall's aunt, Suzie Marshall, who lives in Blackbird Leys, Oxford.

Inside was a tape showing Frankie being brought home from the John Radcliffe Hospital and having his first bath. Now they have issued a plea for the tape's return, following the burglary on Tuesday or Wednesday of last week.

Ms Marshall said: "The house was in a bit of a state and was virtually stripped of everything.

"We are in the process of doing it up for us as a family home and hoping to move in around March.

"We had saved up from Christmas 2005 for this holiday and were really looking forward to it.

"But I said to Antony I didn't want to take the camcorder on holiday because I was afraid it might get stolen or lost. We left it in the hallway.

"I find it really weird they they only took that. They didn't bother with the DVD or the many power tools which were in the house."

Ms Marshall said she and Mr Hollis had been told by the police when they reported the theft that the reason why other items had not been touched was that burglars are usually nervous of sudden noises, and may have grabbed the first thing they had seen before making a hasty exit.

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.