Two brothers have been jailed for kidnapping a 64-year-old woman as she waited in a car for her husband.

Yvonne Eldridge was alone and listening to the radio in the vehicle outside Halfords in Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, when Damien and Nigel Hill jumped in.

Nigel Hill, 37, sat in the driver's seat while his 34-year-old brother took the seat behind Mrs Eldridge and locked the doors, telling her: "We're going for a little ride."

As the car was driven away, a terrified Mrs Eldridge struggled with one of the men, knocking his glasses off, but was warned she "might get hurt" if she tried anything again.

The Hills, of Mountfield Road, Eastbourne, then snatched her bag as she searched for a spray to control her heart condition.

The alarming ordeal in March came to an end minutes later when Mrs Eldridge opened the door as the car slowed and screamed for help.

Richard Hutchings, prosecuting, told Lewes Crown Court: "She saw members of the public standing in the road.

"She managed to open the door, stick her legs out and cry for help."

Brave bystanders chased the men as they ran away with the bag but were unable to catch them, the court heard.

Mr Hutchings said: "Police were approached by a local woman who said she knew who the kidnappers were.

"The two were named as brothers Damien and Nigel Hill."

The brothers, later picked out in an identity parade, were arrested and some of Mrs Eldridge's possessions were found at their home.

They admitted kidnap and theft.

Stella Reynolds, defending father-of-three Damien Hill, said: "His greatest mitigation is that he has always been adamant he would not put the victim through a trial."

Frank Winslett, defending Nigel Hill, told the court: "This was an offence driven by a history of drug-related offences.

"He has shown remorse."

Jailing the brothers for four years each, Judge Anthony Scott-Gall told them it was a "callous and utterly vicious" offence".