A pensioner whose purse containing pictures of her dead husband was taken from a post office today warned others to be on the lookout for thieves.

Angela Coldicott, 66, retired to Newhaven with her husband after living in Wolverhampton for 20 years.

After losing her husband two years ago she continued to live in her bungalow in Powell Gardens, Newhaven with her son Andrew, 22.

Mrs Coldicott drew her pension weekly from her nearest post office in Mount Pleasant.

Yesterday after leaving her purse on the counter for just a couple of minutes she discovered it had been stolen along with £250, photographs, payment cards and her medical cards.

She said: "If they wanted the money I would have given it to them.

"It was the picture of my husband inside my purse. It really hurt and it knocked me for six.

"I just want to warn everybody not to put their purse down because you do not know who is behind you or who is watching the post office."

The incident occurred around 11.30am.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Newhaven police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.