AN APPLEBY mother is appealing for the return of a bag after claiming that her devastated daughter's entire future could depend on it.

Charlotte Eyles, an Anatomical Science degree student at Manchester University, lost the rectangular black holdall on Saturday (19 May) as she returned home to Brampton on a replacement bus service.

The bag contained three lever arch files that hold hundreds of hours worth of research, notes, information and practise papers and Ms Eyles needs them to prepare for her final exams this week.

"Somebody at Lancaster or Oxenholme might have thought it contained a laptop, because of the shape of it, and then thrown it over the wall when they found it just contained files.

"Someone might even have taken it by mistake but we just want to find it as soon as possible because Charlotte's entire future could depend on it," said Ms Eyles' mother Janet The bag went missing after the 22-year-old student was picked up on a replacement bus service from Preston Train Station at around 12.30pm. She got off the bus, which stopped off at both Lancaster and Oxenholme Train Stations on route, at Penrith and discovered it was missing from the luggage compartment beneath the bus.

"She is devastated. On the day, she was really distressed but she is trying to be calm and sensible about it now and has gone to Penrith Library to try and do some research before her first exam on Thursday.

"Her ambition for the future is to be a science teacher and she has already got a placement at St Martin's College next year to learn how to be a teacher. I just hope it is not all in ruins," added Janet Eyles.

Police confirmed that a missing bag was reported to them on Sunday, May 20.

Anyone with any information should contact Janet Eyles on 077167-56535.