A thief has stolen a laptop in Britain that was used at the funeral service of a six-year-old boy while his family laid him to rest.

The computer had been used to show mourners photographs of the child.

CCTV of the suspect has been released in the hope of tracking him down and recovering the laptop.

The boy's 34-year-old father had left the device in a bag at the Pentecostal City Church in Scrubs Lane, northwest London, while the family went to the burial site.

While they were away, a man walked into the church hall and took the laptop in a carrier bag.

Detective Constable Ben Kirkham said: "The theft of this laptop with the father's precious photos of his son has obviously and understandably caused huge upset for the entire family, who are already going through a difficult time".

The man has been described as being about 40-years-old, and was wearing a black hooded jacket and white hooded top at the time.

Police say he walks with a distinctive limp.