Missing memory card ... Chelsey and Rikki Elliott. Picture: Essex Police / Facebook Source: Facebook

Chelsey and Rikki Elliott were identified as the couple in the photographs by a user on Facebook within 12 minutes after the images were posted on Essex Police’s Facebook page.

The memory card, which contained photographs of Mr and Mrs Elliott’s wedding in Kenya in 2012, was handed in to Clacton police station, the BBC reported.

Police asked for help in reuniting the card on the social media websitestating that the card “may be of great sentimental value” to its owners, who remained a mystery.

“Did you get married in Kenya on October 10, 2012? Do you recognise the couple in the photograph? Are you Rikki, or Chelsey, or do you know them? If you can offer any help with identifying the card’s owner, please call Clacton Front Office on 101,” Essex police said.

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Kenyan wedding ... Chelsey and Rikki Elliott were identified by Facebook users within 15 minutes after Essex police posted their lost memory card. Picture: Esserx Police / Facebook Source: Facebook

The appeal was reported more than 1200 times and after 12 minutes a friend of Mrs Elliot’s “tagged” her in a message below the post, writing: “Chelsey Elliott!!! This is you babe”.

“I’ve text my aunt (groom’s mum),” wrote another user. “Thanks all for sharing.”

Mrs Elliot then contacted police to arrange for the card to be returned. She said she was a “very happy lady”.

“Many, many kind people out there. Thank you everyone,” she wrote.

However, a number of Facebook users questioned the police’s detective work over the post.

Matthew Kennedy posted: “Am I right in thinking that this mystery was solved by typing the information in the picture into Google? And now we are praising essex police on their great work? Just so I’m clear.”

Another Facebook user stated: “It should not be that hard to find the owners.

“A quick Google finds out who arranged the marriage in Kenya for them. Pretty sure you can ask them for contact details.”

However, others praised the decision by Essex police to post the information.

“The power of Facebook being used in a good way for once. Well done all,” said one man.

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