Thieves stole a meals-on-wheels van full of hot dinners as its driver made a delivery.

The driver for Pentlow Community Services was dropping off a meal at Berkeley Court in Wilmington Square, Eastbourne, when the thief struck.

The crook made off with the S-registered Suzuki van, which was laden with roast pork dinners for pensioners aged 85 to 95.

Five of them had to make do with bread and cheese instead after the theft at 12.45pm on Sunday.

Administrator Christine Winchester said: "The weather was particularly awful when our driver hopped out to deliver the meal.

"When he returned the van had gone. A witness reported seeing a man getting into the van, which still had half a tank of petrol in it.

"The driver is gutted. Unfortunately he left the key in the van, but you wouldn't expect anything like this to happen, particularly in such a salubrious area as that."

Managers at the service, based in Summerdown Road, Eastbourne, offered a reward for the van's return.

But it was found undamaged yesterday afternoon by a member of staff in Jevington Gardens.

The undelivered meals were untouched but a small amount of cash was taken.

Matron Clare Norwood said: "We are only too pleased to have it back because the van contained addresses for the old folk we were delivering to.

"We have been forced to turn away some clients because we haven't had the van so now we hope to resume normal service by lunchtime today after it has been checked and serviced."