A poker player was beaten up by two masked robbers who lay in wait for her.

Deborah Rogers said she thought the raiders, who demanded the keys to her safe before punching her in the face, had been staking her flat out.

Ms Rogers, 59, of Lansdowne Place, Hove, said she had just opened her door on Wednesday to walk her terriers when the raiders struck.

She said: “One of them pushed me and I fell to the ground."

“And he kept punching my face. My nose was bleeding and there was blood everywhere."

The 59-year-old said she thought the robbers had been watching her thinking she had cash from playing poker.

She added: “It wasn't chance, they wanted the keys to my safe. They knew it was a key not a code."

Sussex Police are appealing for witnesses who saw the robbery or anyone acting suspicious in the are to call 0845 6070999.