Interior designer fears eight years of work could be deleted with the click of a button

A top interior designer is appealing for the return of a vital back up drive that was stolen when crooks broke into her property last week.

Charlie Greig from Kensal Rise, fears years of hard work could be deleted at the click of the button after the Imac equipment was stolen from the flat she shares with her teenage daughter.

Ms Greig has been using the device to store valuable information for a social enterprise project she is at the brink of launching after eight years of work.

She told the Times: “I really need it. I can’t work without it. It has everything stored on it.”

In addition to the hard drive, the thieves also made off with laptops, jewellery and valuables worth around �10,000.

“I am deeply upset that I have been burgled but as I’m insured the other things can be easily replaced,” Ms Greig said.

“The information on my back up drive is priceless and without it eight years of work has gone down the drain.

“My biggest fear is that it will be sold on and the information will be wiped off.

“If someone out there knows where it is can they please return it as I can’t do a thing without it.”

The missing back up drive is white and 19cm square - it is identical to the one Ms Greig is holding.

Anyone who finds it should hand it in at a police station.