WORKING mum Nicola Annett knew she would not miss the most precious moments of her newborn son Conor's early life, even when she was out at work.

For, armed with a camcorder borrowed from Nicola's parents, her partner Jon Booth-Hudson zoomed in on the tot's first 12 weeks to capture everything from the baby's first bath to his first encounter with his two-year-old sister, Georgia.

But the couple's plans to treasure the once-in-a-lifetime footage forever were destroyed when thieves snatched the camcorder and its precious cargo in a break-in at grandparents Michael and Annette Annett's home in Beckfield Lane, Acomb.

Disaster had already struck six months earlier when video footage of daughter Georgia's second birthday was stolen along with another camcorder from the couple's car in Leeds.

Now Nicola, who also lives in Acomb, has made an emotional plea for the return of the latest missing tape.

"The tape is of no value to the people that took it, but it is priceless to us," she said.

"We always said if there was a fire the only possessions we would try to save in the house would be our photographs and the camcorder."

Cash, jewellery and other items were also taken in the raid on Monday night.

Nicola said: "Both myself and my parents are not bothered about the rest of the stuff. That can be replaced. We just want the cassette back."

Nicola is appealing to the thieves to return the tape, and, more realistically, to members of the public who may find it dumped in the area or be offered the camera for sale.

The unlabelled, Sony-brand cassette is black, with a clear window and is roughly the size of a cigarette packet.

Anyone who can help should call the couple on 07714 193444. Information on any crime can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

PICTURE: DISTRAUGHT: Nicola Annett and her 13-week-old son, Conor Booth-Hudson, look through pane of glass which was smashed by burglars to gain entry to her parent's house in Acomb. The thieves stole a treasured camcorder tape (Mike Tipping)