A mother has condemned the "scum" who trashed her family's home and killed its pets.

Tracey Woolgar and partner Gary Stoner returned from a break in the sun to find their house torn apart by thugs.

The intruders ransacked rooms, smeared the walls with excrement and urinated over children's mattresses.

They completed the devastation by attacking the family's fish tank, apparently attempting to fry one of goldfish and burn another with an iron.

The third was found lying on the floor.

Tracey, 38, of Gloucester Street, Brighton, said: "Being broken into was bad enough but to smear the place in filth and kill the fish was terrible.

"The people who did this are just scum. I've never known anything like it in my life."

Police believe an attempt was also made to drown the family's hamster but it survived.

Since the attack on Sunday, the couple's sons Aidan, eight, and Ryan, 11, have been too scared to go upstairs unaccompanied or sleep alone.

Tracey said: "The children are devastated. They are worried the intruders are going to come back again. They've been really upset about losing the fish. Aidan woke up screaming one night.

"The hamster is petrified. She won't let us pick her up. We've bought the boys a couple of budgies to try to help them get over it."

Tracey and Gary, 37, unemployed, were staying with Gary's parents when the burglary happened.

Tracey said: "I was born and bred in Brighton, I lived in Whitehawk before here. But I never thought anything like this would happen to me.

"I'm a very houseproud person. I cleaned the place before we went away. A friend rang us to tell us what had happened. I cried at the airport because I knew what I was coming home to.

"Some friends cleared up the worst of the mess but it was still awful to come home to."

The thugs emptied the freezer, scattered food everywhere and smashed eggs on the walls.

The family's stereo, camcorder and scooters were stolen.

Four people have been arrested and released on bail pending further police inquiries.