A woman was left distraught after she lost more than £2,000 in a toilet cubicle.

Jill Healey, 50, from East Brighton, had been saving £95 from her mother's pension every week for more than four months to pay for her respite care and was on her way to the bank when she lost the money.

Mrs Healey went to the toilet in BHS in Churchill Square, Brighton, between 1pm and 2pm on Wednesday (APRIL 25) before going to another shop and realising her handbag felt light.

She said: "My mum has been very ill with Alzheimer's disease for about nine years and she has been in Ireland Lodge for about four years. We have been told it's only a matter of time before she dies.

"I was putting her pension aside each week so I am not sure how much there was in the envelope but I know it was more than £2,000.

"The envelope was inside a plastic sandwich bag and my phone also fell out of my pocket while I was in the loo.

"When I went back to the cubicle my phone was there and so was the envelope but the money was gone.

"I was in such a daze I did not go into the shop and ask if the money had been handed in."

Mrs Healey said she tried ringing the store's customer service line when she got home but could not get through. Her husband Kenneth, 50, took her to Brighton police station and she reported the money missing.

She said Brighton and Hove City Council, which runs Ireland Lodge in Lockwood Crescent, Woodingdean, had been very understanding and told her they would come to an arrangement for her to pay the fees.

She said: "My husband has just had a kidney transplant so not only was I coping with him being in hospital but also being told that my mum did not have long left.

"In hindsight I should not have been saving the money in the way I had and I was worried about having so much in the house but I did not have the time to pay it in. I know it's my own fault and I should not have saved up so much."

A BHS spokeswoman said she was unable to comment as Mrs Healey had not reported the money missing to staff.

Anyone who finds the money should hand it into a police station or call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.