A BOURNEMOUTH couple's big day was ruined after a thief stole their wedding gifts while they were busy celebrating.

Helen and Paul Woods married in St Peter's Church in Bournemouth before hosting a wedding reception for 200 guests at the Royal Bath Hotel.

Some of the guests had left gifts on a table and it was not until later that evening the bride and her mother, Christine Brown, realised some items had been stolen.

Some of the guests had seen a middle-aged woman, who they thought had been invited, put up to 10 gifts into her bag before walking off.

CCTV footage showed a woman walking around the hotel with the gift bags before leaving.

Mrs Brown, 59, from Bournemouth said the theft had ruined the day for her daughter and managing director son-in-law, both 33.

Housewife Mrs Brown said: "The thief must be pretty callous. It's ruined their wedding day.

"Now when they look back to the wedding it will be marred by this dreadful event."

DC Matt Stacey, of Bournemouth CID, said: "There were around 200 guests at the reception and, as they arrived, some guests were placing gifts on a table set aside for the purpose in the restaurant.

"At about 5.30pm, several guests saw a middle-aged woman - who looked like a guest - putting some of the gifts into bags."

He added: "As guests were being moved from the Garden Restaurant into the DeVere Suite for the evening reception, the bride and her mother realised that several wedding gifts appeared to be missing from the table.

"The following day, after enquiries with the hotel failed to find the missing gifts, the matter was reported to the police, before the distraught bride and groom left for their honeymoon."

The woman police are seeking is described as 50 to 55 years old, average build with short sandy-coloured hair and wearing dark clothing.

Police believe that up to ten gifts were stolen including a unique ceramic plate commemorating the wedding, a silver bookmark and cufflinks, two bottles of champagne and DVDs.