Burglars trashed a woman's flat and stole the last remaining link she had with her recently-deceased mother.

Four precious rings passed down through the family were the only things Hannah Brown was left by her mother when she died suddenly on her 62nd birthday in February.

But the sparklers were among the stash taken last Friday, along with £160 cash which had been raised for African charities by the Brighton Peace and Environment Centre where she works.

The 26-year-old hopes either the culprits might have a change of heart when they realise the sentimental value of what they have taken or the rings will be identified by jewellers or pawn shop owners.

Her mother's engagement ring was a ruby with diamonds around it, set on a 22-carat gold band.

Hannah had hoped to reset her grandmother's opal and emerald ring into her own engagement ring.

Her mother's opal and sapphire eternity ring and her great-grandmother's diamond cluster ring were also taken.

She said: "I was totally inconsolable when my mother died and I felt I had just got back on my feet and started to come to terms with her death.

"But last Friday I returned home and found they had taken the last physical link I had with her and it felt like I had lost her all over again. They have a huge emotional value and are irreplaceable.

"Not only have they done that but they have robbed from a charity. I didn't have £160 lying around my flat because I was flash. It was from a fund-raiser for African charities and taking it is out of order."

The culprits ransacked Hannah's home in Buckingham Street, Brighton, while she was at work between 10am and 4pm.

They tipped everything out of her wardrobe and drawers, rummaged through paperwork and her stored mother's belongings and eventually found the rings concealed in boxes under her bed.

They also stole her laptop from work and a camera containing undeveloped film of her mother last Christmas.

A Sussex police spokeswoman said: "The burglary appears to have happened during daylight hours so if someone saw something and perhaps thought nothing of it at the time we would urge them to contact us."

Anyone with information should call 0845 6070999.