A family is demanding a refund from a furniture shop for the sofas their mother ordered just before she died.

Sylvia Leguen collapsed and died from a heart attack in her son Kevin's arms on Sunday, aged 59.

Just two weeks before, she had moved into a new home in Ringmer Road, Brighton, and was awaiting delivery of two sofas from the Furniture Warehouse in Lewes Road.

Now, her sons want a refund of the £619 their mother paid for the terracotta-coloured sofas.

Youngest son Nicholas Coomber, 35, of Batemans Road, Woodingdean, said: "My mother had saved up for years for these sofas because she didn't have much money.

"She ordered them a few weeks before her death and we have a receipt saying she paid by cheque.

"As the sofas were never delivered, we think the store should do the decent thing and give us a refund.

"We spoke to them and they said that legally they couldn't because my mother did not make a will.

"But we took things back to the Co-op and explained about my mother's death and they had no problem.

"The money would help towards the cost of her funeral."

A spokeswoman for Furniture Warehouse said the company would issue a refund only when family members proved they were the legal guardians of Mrs Leguen's property.

She said: "We have spoken to our solicitors and if Mrs Leguen did not make a will probate has to be granted.

"Once the family have a letter saying they are the trustees, we will give them a refund.

"We just need to make sure we're giving it to the right people.

"We are definitely not trying to withhold money from the family."