Vintage shorts donated by the widow of a pioneering surfer have been stolen from a museum charting the history of the sport.

The rare Sixties shorts or "baggies" were taken from the Surfing Museum in Kings Road Arches, Brighton, on Saturday as hundreds arrived on the beach for the inaugural Seafront Celebration.

But as the festival marking the renewed vibrancy and a decrease in crime on the seafront got under way, thieves walked into the museum and made off with the shorts.

Museum director Pete Robinson said: "To me these shorts are invaluable because they are part of Britain's surfing history and a part of the legacy of a special man.

"It is not about the money, it is about getting them back.

"I am devastated that anyone could steal from a museum and I now have to tell his widow they have been stolen."

The shorts were owned by Phillip Seal, one of the first people to establish Kent on the list of Britain's top surfing beaches in the mid Sixties.

Mr Seal made regular trips into the water at Joss Bay and around Broadstairs in Kent as well as touring the beaches in Cornwall for more than 40 years.

The shorts were made in Newquay under licence for the Californian surfing brand Hang Ten and were donated to the museum by Mr Seal's widow following his death from cancer.

Mr Robinson is now appealing for help finding the surf wear and is offering a vintage surfboard to anyone who can return the shorts.

He said: "I cannot imagine any of our true museum visitors would have done anything like this but there were some heavy downpours on Saturday and someone probably came in and thought it would be funny to take the shorts.

"If you see anyone wearing these, or if you see them for sale on eBay or anywhere else, please contact us urgently so the police can arrest the culprits."

The shorts are described as blue with yellow and white flowers and have a label sewn into the back which reads: "Made by the Newquay Knitting Co."

Anyone with information can email info@thesurfingmuseum.co.uk or call 07887 758324.