A COUPLE'S holiday to Prague was ruined when they discovered precious jewellery worth more than £5,000 had been stolen from their suitcase.

Alan and Aline Bradley are convinced the items were stolen at Prague airport and, as well as being distressed by the loss, they believe the incident highlights a dangerous breach of security.

Mrs Bradley feared there was the opportunity for dangerous items to be planted in luggage by terrorists to endanger the aircraft or for drugs to be slipped into passengers' bags and recovered later, by force.

The couple, of Pelham Lodge, Kidderminster, had flown with discount airline, bmibaby, and discovered the loss of jewellery when they collected the suitcase from the carousel at East Midlands Airport.

Among the jewellery stolen was 62-year-old Mrs Bradley's engagement ring, which she had treasured since she was 19, her ruby wedding ring and an emerald and diamond ring.

"The loss of all the most important and sentimental items of my jewellery has caused me extreme heartache and totally ruined my holiday in Prague," she said.

Mrs Bradley and her 70-year-old husband believed the thief must have had plenty of time to rifle through the case because clothes had been refolded, giving the impression it had been unpacked and re-packed.

Both bmibaby and the couple's travel insurers denied liability and refused to pay out for the loss of the jewellery. They have, however, been able to submit a claim through their home contents insurance.

A bmibaby spokeswoman said the company's conditions of carriage contained a list of items - including jewellery - which should not be included in checked baggage and, therefore, claims of this nature could not be covered.