A NEWPORT couple lost £2,500 in cash that they had drawn out to pay for a diamond engagement ring to seal their relationship.

The distraught couple, who do not want to be named, lost the money in a supermarket car park on Saturday evening.

Now, they have offered a £500 reward to anyone who returns it to them - so that they can go ahead and buy the ring they dreamt of.

They had been saving up for months to buy the engagement ring, and had withdrawn the cash that day to pay for it.

The couple, who say they are "inconsolable", lost the money while shopping at the Tesco superstore in Cardiff Road, Newport, at around 6pm on Saturday.

They believe it dropped from a pocket when they parked the car. A search of the car park failed to locate the cash, and the store's CCTV cameras had not recorded the incident.

The would-be bridegroom said: "We are devastated. We had picked the ring during the day from Roger Williams Studios in Cardiff, got the money out, and then went to Tesco's to buy some provisions to celebrate."

They immediately reported the loss to the police.

Sergeant Colin Thomas, based in Newport, said: "This young couple are very upset, and just want their money back. There has been no sign of it yet, but hopefully someone with a conscience will find it and hand it in. There will be no questions asked."

The money was wrapped in £1,000 bundles in a white NatWest envelope. Police say it can be returned to any police station, where the reward will be paid.

And the would-be bridegroom said the couple will go ahead with their wedding plans despite the massive setback.

He said: "We're still determined to go ahead with the wedding, whatever happens."