A mother and son have been made homeless after thieves stole the camper van they were going to live in while travelling in Europe.

Anna Frendo, 24, had packed clothes, toys and cooking equipment into the van as she prepared for a two-month tour of France and Spain with her four-year-old son Joe.

They had moved out of their rented flat, in the Preston Park area of Brighton, intending to use their mobile home until they returned.

Miss Frendo then planned to look for somewhere else to live.

Now they have been forced to stay at friends' houses until she decides what to do next.

Their dream trip has been ruined and Joe was upset because his birthday presents were stolen with the van, a D-registration Freight Rover.

Before setting off, Miss Frendo had stopped off with her son to say goodbye to friends in Circus Road, Brighton, when the theft took place.

Miss Frendo said: "We stayed for 45 minutes but when I came out the van had been stolen. I thought I had gone mad at first and looked round for it but I knew where I had parked it and there were two cars parked there instead.

"I spent six months doing up the van because it was going to be a base for us while we travelled round.

"I kept it looking scruffy so nobody would want to steal it. I just can't understand why anyone would take it.

"My little boy has been quite upset because all his toys went and he expected to be in France for his birthday.

"I may fly to Spain instead. My parents are over there but I am waiting to see if the police can find my van."

The trip had been planned to celebrate the completion of Miss Frendo's degree in geography, development and environmental studies at Sussex University and as a treat for Joe before he started nursery in September.

Miss Frendo said: "It looked so tatty. It does stand out so I have been driving round looking for it. I had insurance for the van but not for the contents. I just have to wait and see if it turns up."