A pub landlord has appealed for thieves to hand in two phones which were stolen from his premises.

Neil Smith, 45, lives with his girlfriend, Samantha Gipson, 30 (both pictured), above The Swan pub on Newland Street.

Shortly before 11pm last Thursday, the couple were targeted by thieves who stole Miss Gipson’s two HTC Desire Eye mobile phones from their residence above the pub.

Miss Gipson used one of the phones for her new hairdressing business, which had all her contacts on.

The other phone was for personal use and has sentimental value because photos of her baby niece, who is less than a year old, are saved on it. 

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for more.