A disabled woman had £13,000 worth of coins stolen by youths who broke into her home and knocked her to the ground.

The 48-year-old woman opened her front door to youths at 9.15am yesterday because she thought the students staying with her were having trouble with their key.

Instead, the three teenage burglars aged between 15 and 17 rushed into her home in Hangleton Road, Hove, and knocked her face-forward on to the ground.

One of them put his foot on her back to keep her on the floor while the others smashed her possessions.

They stole a collection of 3,000 coins ranging from Roman times to the reign of George III, which were valued at £13,000 in the early Nineties.

The youths also took a television, video, and an old hi-fi.

Because of her debilitating disability, the victim was unable to get up from the ground when the youths left.

She lay there until her carer helped her up when she returned later that morning.

All of the youths were described as white. One was 5ft 6in, chubby and wore a woolly hat pulled down and a blue Adidas top.

The second wore flared trousers and a red top and the third one was 5ft 10in and wore a dark top and jeans.

PC Rob Dean, who is investigating the burglary, said: "This was a sickening and callous burglary on a very vulnerable lady.

"I'm appealing to people who were in the area and may have seen these youths.

"These coins are very identifiable and will be sold on.

"I need to hear from anyone who is offered them."

Anyone with information can contact PC Rob Dean at Hove Police Station on 0845 6070999.

People who are offered the coins for sale or recognise the youths' descriptions can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.