A talented artist with Down's syndrome, whose colourful mural is constantly featured on TV, has had her lifetime's work stolen by car thieves.

Cherry Moore won the hearts of the nation when she appeared on TV's This Morning.

Presenters Richard Madely and Judy Finnigan liked her and her work so much it now forms the backdrop to the performance area of the show.

But on a visit to Brighton, the entire record of the 20-year-old's work along with 12 of her most recent paintings were stolen from a car parked on the top storey of the Brighton Marina car park.

They were being taken round Sussex art galleries by Michael Reeve who runs a group called Art Stable, which promotes the work of artists with disabilities Up until 1974 Michael Reeve, 58, used to run a second-hand clothing shop called Articles in Tidy Street, Brighton.

He thought he would have a look round his old town and stopped off at Brighton Marina with his wife. When they got back to the car park they found their car had been stolen.

Michael said: "I can't understand why my Nissan Prairie was targeted by thieves. It is really just an old banger.

"The car does not matter as much as the paintings. What I am particularly worried about is the disappearance of all the negatives of everything Cherry has done. There is no other record of her work.

"Cherry is currently in Canada and I am desperate to get the car back before she returns.

"I don't know how she will take it, 12 of her best pictures being stolen along with the only record of everything she has ever painted."

The stolen car is a silvery blue Nissan Prairie estate, registration C729 ULP.

Anyone with information should get in touch with Brighton Police on 0845 6070999.