Never miss a big story in Plymouth again with our daily newsletters Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A couple who broke three out of their four arms within days of each other on a snowboarding trip to Austria have suffered another devastating blow, after their beloved wheelie bin went AWOL shortly after they returned home.

Stuart and Samantha Smith were on holiday at the end of January when Sam had a snowboarding accident and broke both of her arms so badly she required surgery.

Not be outdone, doting husband Stuart tried to go one better. However, he failed - because he only managed to break one of his arms - when he too suffered a snowboarding accident a week later, at the beginning of February.

Despite having just one broken arm, compared to Samantha's two, Stuart had to be stretchered off the mountain, while hardcore Samantha made it off under her own steam.

They are now sporting his-and-hers matching scars, after both of them required surgery to pin their broken bones back together.

The Smiths had not longed returned from their ill-fated holiday when they were rocked by another devastating blow: the disappearance of their Wheelie Bin.

The calamitous couple run the Beacon Crag guesthouse in Porthleven, Cornwall - which hosts The Masked Ball dance music festival every May - but there are fears their missing garbage receptacle may now be in Devon.

It may seem as if Mr and Mrs Smith really can't catch a break (unless it involves the radius or ulna bones), but the couple remain hopeful their bin will be recovered, and have now launched a missing bin appeal.

Samantha posted the heartfelt and emotional appeal on Facebook earlier today, Tuesday, February 28, offering a a reward for information leading its return.

She said "the bin might have blown away, might have just run away" - but a bin-napping has not yet been ruled but by the couple.

The local community has rallied around to offer their support to the Smiths at this difficult time, offering leads and potential sightings - with one person saying they "think it may have crossed the border into Devon," meaning the the bin could now be in Plymouth.

Another asked if the bin was green with black wheels, because he had seen a bin matching that description.

And one person said: "When you find him, ask him where he's wheelie bin hiding."

One friend said: "If someone has taken it you won't find out. I think we all know they'll be keeping a lid on it."

The fact the local community has been a tower of strength will be of little surprise to the Smiths, who were inundated with offers of help when they returned home from holiday with only one fully-functioning arm between them.

Generous friends did not just offer to lend a hand, they actually sent alms, or rather arms, through the post to the Smiths.

However, with their arms now on the mend, and Samantha able to hold a pint again, their minds are focused on finding their lost bin.

Stuart told The Herald: "I've grown very attached to my wheelie bin. It's seen the last four Masked Balls.

"If that bin could talk it could tell a few stories.

"I'm just worried it's laying in a ditch somewhere, all alone."