A woman has become the victim of thieves at her home for the second time in less than a fortnight.

Lorette Way's handbag containing £800, credit cards and an eternity ring was taken while the front door was open at her house in Ditchling Road, Brighton last Friday.

On June 11, wrought-iron gates worth £3,500 which Mrs Way had designed herself to protect the driveway were stolen from the front of the house.

The latest theft, on Friday, happened when a workman from a glass-fitting company was moving equipment from his van to the house.

Mrs Way, 39, said: "It wasn't his fault. Obviously some chancer passing by saw the open door and tried their luck.

"There were two handbags on the side. Luckily for them, they took the one with everything in it. I keep my world in that handbag."

The £800 was to pay the wages of workmen employed by her husband Kevin's building company and Mrs Way has had the eternity ring since she and her husband met 16 years ago.

Also in the bag were a lilac silk cardigan and a Louis Vuitton purse.

The £55 tub-style handbag is bright pink with grey and orange flowery shapes, with tan leather handles, and has thin, coloured stripes inside.