A mum has made a desperate plea for the return of a "priceless" necklace pendant containing her son's ashes.

Kirstie Boyce, 33, misplaced the silver heart decoration near her home in Rectory Road in Deal around lunchtime on Thursday.

It contains the ashes of her son Jake Fairclough who died while she was 31 weeks pregnant in May 2012.

The former Walmer Secondary School pupil has described the precious piece of jewellery as "the last thing" she has of her son and is urging residents to be vigilant.

She said: "It means everything to me. It's the last thing I've got of him and now I've lost it, I feel like I've let him down.

"If you find it just please try and get it back to me."

The children's home manager who works in Thanet had taken the necklace into Deal High Street to have a replacement chain fitted.

She recalls having it in the car on her way home but thinks it must have dropped out somewhere between the corner of Rectory Road and St Richards Road.

It is less than half an inch wide and has a distinctive screw at the bottom.

She continued: "It's so sentimental. It's got no monetary value but to me it's priceless.

"We'd do anything to have it back."

Ms Boyce believes the pendant could be the only one in the UK.

Because of its special design, it was made and delivered to her friend in America who then brought it by hand to the UK.

It was made made six months after her son's passing and she has worn it for the past six and half years.

Friends, family and strangers have already rallied to support Ms Boyce in the search.

Her post on Facebook has been shared almost 300 times.

Posters have been put up in the area where she lives and today a metal detector will be used to scout the area.

If you find the pendant, please call Kirstie on 07743683068.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal