TWO Wales football fan brothers may have had their Euro 2016 travel arrangements scuppered after their mum put their tickets in a case for safekeeping and then accidentally returned it to a shop...tickets and all.

Leon and Gary Ravenscroft, originally from Brynglas, but now living in Australia were eagerly waiting for Gillian Ravenscroft to arrive down-under with their two sets of tickets, a present from their parents.

The life-long Wales fans were then due to go off on the trip of a lifetime to France to watch the team they have supported and loved for decades.

But in preparation for the trip to Australia Mrs Ravenscroft treated herself to a purple Pierre Cardin cabin bag and put the tickets in straight away for safekeeping.

She then decided the case was too small and returned it to TK Maxx in Cwmbran last week totally forgetting that the tickets for Wales v Russia and Wales v Slovakia were inside.

Leon, aged 43 said: “'I couldn’t wait for the tickets to arrive. And then they didn’t!

“Months of planning, organising for a trip of a lifetime, and now it looks like I will be going all that way to sit in a cafe, with a soggy baguette and a black coffee.”

His brother Gary, 46, has said he also can’t believe what has happened: “To get so close after all these years and to lose the tickets in these circumstances is very disappointing.”

Mrs Ravenscroft said she is now “totally devastated” by her decision to return the bag.

And to make matters worse TK Maxx in Cwmbran have already re-sold the case.

The brothers have said they have each invested more than 30 years of support for Wales having watched games from when they were young children.

The tickets were a gift from their parents, who had attended the qualification games.

The family is now appealing to whoever bought the bag to hand over the tickets after the brothers' attempts to get the tickets re-issued via the Union of European Football (UEFA) failed.

Both brothers are due to fly to France for the games in June, but are still hoping someone may come forward with more information about the tickets.

“Our challenge is to try to locate the buyer of the purple Pierre Cardin cabin bag, and get the tickets returned in time for our long trip from Australia to France.

“A plea is being made to anyone who may know someone who purchased the bag from TK MAXX.”

Do you or someone you know buy the purple Pierre Cardin cabin bag with the Ravenscroft's tickets? Call the newsdesk on 01633 777226.