Thieves struck late at night to steal a pair of heavy wrought-iron gates from the front of a house.

The swoop has baffled Lorette Way, who designed and owned the £3,500 barriers.

They measured 9ft by 11ft and protected the driveway of her home in Ditchling Road, Brighton.

The theft took place on Tuesday between 10.30pm and just before midnight when Mrs Way, 39, got out of bed and noticed the gates were missing.

At first she assumed the thieves had moved them so they could steal one of the family's two new vehicles parked on the drive - a Volvo convertible and a Toyota van. But both vehicles were untouched.

Mrs Way, who lives with her husband and daughter, said: "If this wasn't so annoying, it would be laughable.

"Why would anyone take the trouble to steal these gates? It would have taken a couple of strong men just to move them.

"They are a bit imposing but they're nothing special. They're just black with a few silver onion-shaped features.

"Perhaps someone just liked the look of them and fancied taking them.

"Or maybe they thought they looked expensive and might have a street value."

Mrs Way reported the loss to police who helped her search the area.

She said: "I've been climbing over dodgy fences, looking everywhere just for a glimpse of these gates but I haven't had any joy."

She now hopes to jog the memory of anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area.

Mrs Way said: "It wasn't as if it happened at 3am with no one about. There must have been passing traffic at that time of night."