A LUCKY guest at the Lord Mayor of York's Valentine Ball may still be carrying something very precious.

Two hundred leather pouches containing pieces of cut glass were sold at the ball last month, to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

But one £5 pouch contained a real diamond, worth £700 - and its owner still has no idea.

People were told to take their stone to York jewellers Inglis and Son, to get it validated. Although 130 pouches have now been checked, the whereabouts of the remaining 70 is unknown, including the pouch with the diamond.

If you think you own the winning pouch, visit Inglis and Son, in Stonegate.

Updated: 09:16 Saturday, March 06, 2004