A NORTH YORKSHIRE couple fear they could lose their only chance of having a baby after documents vital to an IVF loan went missing in the post.

They face having their identities cloned if the documents fall into the wrong hands.

Kevin and Julie Milburn, of High Street, Linton-on-Ouse, were distraught when their passports, driving licences, bank account details and utility bills disappeared in the post.

The couple had sent the documents to their bank by recorded delivery to remortgage their house for IVF treatment - but three weeks later the package has still not arrived.

The IVF treatment could be delayed for several months and will now probably not take place until the start of next year.

Mr Milburn said: "Time is running out for Julie and we want to get on with it as soon as we can."

Detective Sergeant Ian Illingworth, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "There is enough information for the complete fabrication of their identities," said "It would be possible to open bank accounts, dozens of credit cards, to defraud a six-figure sum of money quite quickly."

The documents were part of a remortgaging application to the Royal Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh, but the parcel was traced to a house in Wales.

Then it was discovered the recorded delivery sticker had become detached from the parcel and attached to another letter, with all trace of the original parcel lost.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We would like to apologise."

Updated: 10:40 Tuesday, October 14, 2003