A father has put up a �500 reward for the return of a laptop that contains irreplaceable photographs of his son.

Gary Scott offered the cash to anyone who can get his black HP G70 laptop back to him after it was stolen in a burglary on his home in Tates Way, Stevenage on Tuesday last week. Another house in the street was also targeted.

Mr Scott, who is the landlord of The Waggon and Horses pub in Graveley, said his wife Becky and son Ben came home shortly after 5pm and may have disturbed the thieves. They found the house in disarray, valuables stolen and a back window forced.

“There was quite a lot of stuff gone, but the thing I’m really upset about is the photos of my nine-year-old son. There were all his pictures and videos from birth,” Mr Scott said. “I’ve got to try anything I can. Someone might be offered the laptop.”

His wife was devastated by the loss of the images, he added.

“That’s the worst thing. You can replace the other stuff. I should have backed them up but there were such a lot there. It shows the importance of these things.”

Police urged anyone who knows anything about the theft, which happened sometime between 3pm and 5.20pm, to call the non-emergency number 101 with crime reference number E11/222/6.