A document bag containing the full piano score of the next show to be performed by members of the Forest Musical Society has disappeared after being left in a Coleford car park.

With rehearsals well underway for the performance of 'Carousel' , the cast is desperate for the bag and its contents to be returned.

Society chairman Peter Silsby said: "The score is critical to our rehearsals and will cost us £120 to replace. We are appealing to anyone who knows the whereabouts of the leather bag and its contents to contact us."

The society is performing 'Carousel' at Lydney Town Hall on May 15, 16 and 17 next year. Rehearsals are already well underway at Coleford Baptist Church, Newland Street, every Tuesday evening.

Mr Silsby explained: "After the rehearsal on Tuesday December 3 we had to swap a keyboard from one car to another. Because the keyboard is heavy our rehearsal pianist put his brown leather document bag on the ground. The bag contained the full score as well as his own music.

"Unfortunately, he then forgot about it and drove off. He did not discover the loss until noon the next day."

Society members immediately launched a search of the Newland Street car park but without success.

"There were other personal items that may have been removed but our biggest fear is that the bag may have been thrown into a refuse lorry as the rubbish was collected there the following day," said Mr Silsby.

•Anyone with information is asked to contact Mr Silsby on Dean 832461 or by email to [email protected]">[email protected]