A HEARTBROKEN woman has launched an appeal for help across Cornwall after a suitcase containing the ashes of her late fiancé and two beloved dogs was mistakenly taken from a train.

Laura Bayliss travelled to Cornwall with her sister on Friday, August 7, intending to scatter the ashes of her fiancé Gav, five years after his death.

The pair were due to visit a location close to where Laura and Gav used to holiday together each year. However, their journey took an upsetting turn when Laura discovered her black, carry-on-sized suitcase had disappeared from the train as they arrived at Par.

The suitcase contained Gav’s ashes, along with the ashes of the couple’s dogs, Jed and Ralfy.

Laura has since shared an appeal on Facebook which has been circulated on local social media noticeboards across Cornwall in the hope someone will recognise the case or hand it in.

The sisters boarded a busy train at Bristol Parkway at 1.22pm, travelling to Par, where they were due to arrive at 4.38pm.

The train had begun its journey in Edinburgh at 7.03am and was travelling onwards to Penzance. Because the train was extremely busy, with passengers standing in the aisles, Laura and her sister were unable to keep their cases beside them and placed them in the luggage racks.

When they arrived at Par and went to collect their belongings, Laura discovered her suitcase was missing. An almost identical black suitcase had been left in its place.

Laura said the case had a small silver badge on the front with red detail. She believes another passenger may have mistakenly picked up her suitcase, potentially believing it was their own.

The other suitcase was handed to the train driver, who confirmed it would be taken to Penzance, the train’s final destination, so its owner can collect it.

Laura has reported her own suitcase missing and is now hoping the person who took it will realise the mistake and hand it in.

She said the contents should make the case particularly recognisable.

Inside was a large rectangular box, almost as tall as the suitcase, containing Gav’s ashes.

There was also a cylindrical tube containing Ralfy’s ashes and a wooden box bearing the name Jed, containing the other dog’s ashes.

The suitcase also contained packing cubes with clothes, a pink wash bag, flip flops and a beach towel marked with the word ‘Corfu’.

Laura said the ashes are not only precious belongings but represent an important final journey she had travelled to Cornwall to complete. She is now asking people across Cornwall to share the appeal widely, particularly anyone who may have travelled on the same train.

The journey was booked through the Trainline app, with the service between Bristol Parkway and Par operated by CrossCountry. The train, headcode 1V52, was due to continue to Penzance.

Laura said she would be “so grateful” for any help locating the suitcase so she can complete Gav’s final journey and scatter his ashes as planned.