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."

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.