A woman is appealing to a thief to return a mobile phone he stole from her dead partner.

A mobile phone and wallet may have dropped out of the pockets of Kevin Humphries as he staggered, dying, along a street or after he collapsed in a roadway.

The 50-year-old was found by his heartbroken girlfriend, Catherine Weston, lying between two parked cars outside her home.

She gave him first aid, assisted by neighbours who rushed to help in Thornton Street, North Ormesby.

Mr Humphries who lived at Hemlington, near Middlesbrough, had left work just over two hours before he was found, complaining of a head ache.

Ms Weston is appealing for the return of the mobile telephone - a Nokia 7650 - which can take photographs and was her Christmas present to him.

Cleveland Police are satisfied Mr Humphries was not mugged outside his girlfriend's home. She had rushed out to meet him on hearing him arrive.

Mr Humphries was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital where he later died. Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, but they are keen to piece together Mr Humphries movements between leaving work and collapsing outside his girlfriend's home on January 10.

A force spokeswoman said: "We don't know whether as he got out of his car he dropped his mobile and wallet; or has been feeling ill, staggered, and dropped them and some unscrupulous person has picked them up and kept them.''

Anyone with information which can assist the police should telephone (01642) 303126.