PRECIOUS family photographs of a seriously ill 10-year-old girl have been stolen from her heartbroken family.

Sophie Micklethwaite’s parents have now made a desperate plea for the culpits to return a laptop which contained images and video footage of the youngster.

Little Sophie suffers from a rare blood deficiency, called Diamond Blackfan Anaemia, which meant she needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

But just days after returning home from the operation thieves struck at her family’s Burnley home.

Specialists at Manchester Children’s Hospital said she had to undergo the transplant before the disease became terminal. In six months her condition will be assessed to discover if the operation was a success.

Thieves struck at Sophie’s Highfield Avenue home and stole laptops, a handbag and cash from Alison and Andy Micklethwaite, and even took a mobile phone and iPod from under the pillow of Sophie’s 15-year-old sister, Abbie.

Now the family are hoping the burglars will return photos and a poignant video of friends of the family just before Sophie went into hospital for the transplant.

Sophie, who is still in part-isolation and can’t see her friends, was also using the laptop to exchange e-mails and see her friends via a webcam link.

Alison, 42, said: “We are just devastated that someone could do this, it is heartbreaking. After all we have been through this just adds to the pain.

“A lot of the stuff can be replaced but the things like family photos and videos are irreplaceable, they are really sentimental.

“There is also photos from Abbie’s trip to Africa earlier in the year which are really important to her.”

The thieves got into the house after the couple, who also have a 12-year-old son called Joel, left the conservatory unlocked.

“We know we shouldn’t have done it,” said Alison, who is off work looking after Sophie, “and we certainly won’t do it again, but we are going through so much with Sophie we just forgot.

“She is on eight different medicines and three creams during the day and it is all so much to remember. We are still going to hospital in Manchester twice a week and Sophie permanently has a suitcase packed in case she has to stay in.”

Sophie has suffered from Diamond Blackfan Anaemia since she was born prematurely, and had to visit a specialist at Manchester Children’s Hospital every week.

But in September the family were told that the Wheatley Lane Primary School pupil had to undergo a bone marrow transplant, otherwise the disease could become terminal.

She underwent the transplant that month and spent seven weeks in hospital before returning home just two weeks ago. Sophie has also suffered hair loss as part of the treatment.

Andy, 44, who works for medical manufacturers Transpack Medical, in Blackburn, said: “What they have done is just heartless.

“But I can’t make myself hate them, I almost feel sorry for them. They obviously have such a shallow, empty and meaningless life that they have to do this.

“The goods that they took are irrelevant but its the memories that can’t be replaced that mean so much, I would be happy just to get the hard drive back.”

The thieves struck sometime between midnight and 7am on Tuesday.

Inspector Mark Baines, from Burnley Police, said: “This incident has been devastating for the family and it has made life even harder for little Sophie who had the laptop computer she was using to keep up with her schoolwork stolen.

“We are appealing for anyone with any information at all to search their conscience and come forward so we can find the person or people responsible and maybe get back some of the stolen property.

“This was an isolated incident - burglary levels are still very low in Burnley.

"However, there will be opportunist thieves around like anywhere else so tragically, it does serve as a warning to keep doors and windows locked.”

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Burnley Police on 0800 555 111.