The mum of a four-year-old battling brain tumours is desperately appealing for thieves to return a phone containing "irreplaceable" photos of her daughter.

Elle Martin, from Whitstable, has been fiercely campaigning to raise £300,000 for potentially life-saving treatment for little Poppy.

The little girl has neurofibromatosis type 1 which, despite 78 rounds of chemotherapy, has caused multiple tumours to grow on her brain.

After learning the tumours are inoperable on the NHS, Elle hopes to fund a course of cutting edge proton beam therapy in Florida.

But while shopping in Canterbury yesterday, her iPhone - containing priceless photos of her daughter's first day at school, and login details for her JustGiving page Poppy's Plea - was stolen from the bathroom in Marks & Spencer.

"It was Poppy's first day back at school," explained the 23-year-old former pupil of Archbishop's school in Canterbury.

"For two-and-a-half weeks I haven't really been able to do anything, so I popped in to do some Christmas shopping and get some bits from Poppy, some vests for school."

But at about midday, Elle was devastated to realise her phone has been swiped from the sink area of the bathroom on the second floor of M&S.

Employees have scoured CCTV footage, but have not been able to trace the thief.

Now, the mum-of-one is appealing for anyone with information about the phone to get in touch.

"Please, just hand it into Canterbury police station," she said. "It's irreplaceable. It's not even the phone, it's just the things on it.

"Photos of Poppy's first day of school are on there - she only started school this year - and her birthdays for the last two years, hospital stays.

"The video to help with Poppy's Plea is on there, and the details to get into my JustGiving page.

"It's just everything, absolutely everything."

The device is described as a black iPhone 8 Plus, in a blue-and-white case with a Grecian tile pattern.

"The background picture is one of me and Poppy," said Elle.

"I couldn't care less if they've got a photo of me, but it's got a photo of my little girl on there too, and I don't want some random person having that.

"It just makes me so angry.

"If that person would just hand it back to me for just 10 minutes so I could get the photos off, I would gladly hand the phone back to them."

Police are investigating the theft.

A spokesman said: "Anyone with information is asked to call Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/219028/19."

Elle has already raised more than £68,000 through the Poppy's Plea JustGiving page. Although the page has now closed, she plans to set up another soon.

• To keep up to date with the appeal, visit the Poppy's Plea Facebook page.

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