POLICE are studying CCTV images in an effort to trace a box of greetings cards and cash that went missing hours after a wedding service.

Distraught newlyweds Stephen and Lyndsay Howarth are appealing for any information to track down the box as they try to piece together the events of the early hours of Saturday, September 19.

Stephen (32) from Haydock, described the wedding on the Friday at St Helens’ Register Office as perfect, but the day was to end on a sour note.

He explained what happened: “Later that evening we had our party at Haydock Catholic Club on Church Road. We had a box wrapped in wedding paper with a slot in the top where people could post their cards. The majority of them would have contained money. There were also birthday cards for my wife Lyndsay.

“We left the club just after midnight to go to a friend’s house, which is about five minutes away. From what we know one of our friends picked up the box to take with us, but by the time we got there it had gone.

“Obviously we had all a bit to drink because of the occasion, but we know that she received a phone call while we were going to the house, so we don’t know if she has put the box down, carried on walking and a stranger came along and picked it up. She is absolutely devastated!”

Lyndsay (27) said: “If someone has taken it, we would of course like the money back, but if not just give us the cards. They mean so much to us and wouldn’t matter to anyone else.”

A police spokesperson confirmed that a crime has been reported to them and they are currently investigating the incident.