Emma Linton had her bag stolen from the handle of her baby's pram as she browsed in the Oxfam charity shop in Victoria Road West.

The 22-year-old is doubly upset by the loss because her bag contained a camera with irreplaceable photographs from the first moments after her five-week-old son Alfie was born.

The incident is the latest in a string of thefts from shoppers mainly in Bon Marche and Oxfam on Victoria Road West.

Last month police issued a warning after estimating that thousands of pounds has been stolen after purses were lifted from the bags mainly of pensioners.

Emma, who lives in Thornton with her boyfriend Scott, said: "I just want to warn people that it is not only elderly people who are being targeted, but young people too.

"They will even take a bag from a newborn baby's pram.

"My bag contained my car keys and all my baby photos from when Alfie was first born and we were still in the delivery suite.

"They are irreplaceable.

"I've also lost a special card they made for me in the hospital with all his details on like his weight at birth.

"Afterwards I couldn't get into my car which has Alfie's baby seat in it.

"I had to hold Alfie all the way home in my mum's car."

A spokesman for Wyre police said detectives were investigating the theft and reinforced warnings to shoppers to be alert.

He said: "We are investigating this latest incident and will be examining CCTV footage.

"We seem to have a particular problem with thefts in charity shops, perhaps because they tend to be quite tightly packed in.

"We would warn people to be careful and to make sure they keep their purse and belongings secure wherever and whenever they are out shopping."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.