A cruel thief stole a handbag from a grieving mother as she tended her son's grave.

Cindy James's bag was taken from the back of her car as she changed the flowers at cancer victim Josh's grave just yards away at Woodvale Crematorium, Brighton, on Sunday.

It contained a mobile phone which held irreplaceable photographs of her son's memorial and phone numbers of families she became friends with during Josh's 15-month fight against cancer before his death in August 2004, aged just 15.

Mrs James, 43, of Birch Grove Crescent, Brighton, who has suffered depression since Josh died two years ago, said: "A cemetery is one place I thought would be sacred but clearly not.

"How anyone can do something so heartless is beyond me.

"I'm not particularly worried about the bag but the phone contains photos of Josh's memorial which I have taken through the seasons which are very dear to me as well as contact details for all the people we met at the Royal Marsden Hospital when Josh was ill.

"I am so upset and just desperate to have the phone back. It is worthless to anyone else but priceless to me."

Mrs James who has two other daughters Kimberley, 20, and Isabell, ten, was making her usual Sunday visit to Josh's grave and parked yards away from the memorial where his ashes are interred.

She said: "I tucked my bag under a pillow in the back seat. Admittedly I did not lock the car but I thought it would be safe.

"I was at the memorial quite a while and was keeping an eye on the car. I noticed the bag was missing on my way home.

"I raced back to the crematorium to look around and search in bins. By this time I was hysterical.

"I have been quite ill since Josh died and am sometimes forgetful so I started doubting whether I actually had the bag but my daughter confirmed I took it with me.

"The thief must have been very quick and must have actually got in the car and rummaged around. It's a heartless and nasty thing to do."

Josh, a pupil at Varndean School, died peacefully in his sleep from a rare form of cancer called Ewing's sarcoma.

Friends, family and readers of The Argus had rallied round to help raise money for the charity Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood (CLIC) to fund a project in his name.

Last July, a summer fair was held at Varndean School, Balfour Road, Brighton, in Josh's honour. Family and friends including celebrity Zoe Ball released balloons at the poignant event, where money was raised for the Josh James Memorial Appeal for CLIC.

Mrs James admitted she has found it very hard to cope with Josh's death and has suffered depression and a series of personal setbacks. She added: "It's been one long living nightmare and for this to happen makes it even worse. It may be that the phone, a blue Sagem, has come into the possession of an innocent party and if so I appeal for them to return it."

Police said a forensic search of the car would be carried out to search for fingerprints. The red shiny bag also contained cash, cards and spectacles.

A spokeswoman said: "The phone has huge sentimental value to Cindy and we would urge anyone with any information to contact us or for the thief to return the phone by sending it back to the police station or, better still, bringing it in person."

Anyone who can help is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 or The Argus on 01273 732648.