Jackie and Adam Sanderson told reporters they had allowed aspiring photographer Ben Fagan to take photos of their big day to ‘help him build up a portfolio of his work’.

‘There aren’t any hard copies – they were the only photos we had,’ Jackie Sanderson told thisiscornwall.co.uk.

The memory stick is believed to have gone astray at a pub in Lostwithiel.

The photographer said: ‘I’m absolutely devastated to have lost my best friends’ photos of the best day of their lives.

‘It’s on my mind constantly. I thought my wallet was the safest place to put it.’