Faced with the struggle of saving for a mortgage while paying high rents in Brighton, Sophie Frykfors and Lalli Castiglione decided to look into alternative forms of living.

The creative pair had previously been thinking about buying a property in the city, but decided there was little appeal in being tied down with a mortgage and a large debt.

Last February they bought a horsebox on Facebook and set about turning it into their dream living space, working on a farmer's land in Ditchling.

Lalli and Sophie pictured last May, while working on the horse box

Now based in Uckfield, they have finally moved in - and the pair have not looked back.

Sophie, an architectural designer with her own practice called Studio Hekkel, said: "We did underestimate how long it would take and didn't have a clue what we were getting ourselves into, but it's amazing now we're finally living in it.

"We've got big double doors and a really comfy sofa, which turns into a six-person dining table and also a bed for guests.

• READ MORE: Brighton couple convert horsebox into a home

"That has to be one of our proudest inventions.

"We have a good-sized kitchen, a fully-functioning bathroom with shower and sink, and upstairs is our bedroom with a sky light leading to the roof, where we're going to make a sun deck.

"We've got no regrets."

Lalli, who runs Do-Lalli hairdressing salon in Bond Street, said: "We wake up every day and think, 'we built this from scratch'.

"We took it down to just the frame. It's so satisfying now it's done."

Apart from some mechanical work on the truck, Sophie and Lalli have converted the horsebox themselves, including the electrics and the plumbing - all with the help of YouTube tutorials.

The horsebox is completely solar powered, aside from the stove, which uses gas, and the pair also recycled old pieces of furniture they found left in Brighton streets to kit out their home.

They designed the space to maximise light and the horsebox is completely insulated, with double glazed windows.

The horsebox stripped to its frame, and Lalli and Sophie during the building process

Sophie said: "The whole idea is that it feels like a house. We've got lots of natural light so it's really bright and comfortable.

"We still can't believe we've made it."

When restrictions are lifted, Sophie and Lalli hope to explore more of the UK in their new home.

They say designing and converting the horsebox has inspired them to do more building work in the future - and their new life will offer them the freedom to save for further projects.

• SEE ALSO: Average Brighton home costs 16 times the average salary, figures show

Lalli said: "We've both got good careers and have worked hard to get into this position.

"We wake up every day and don't feel like we have to go to work to pay the rent. We both enjoy what we do but it's great not to have that pressure.

"Hopefully when the pandemic is over we can do some trips and take our house with us - we can be more spontaneous."

Sophie added: "We just wanted to try something different.

Sophie and Lalli in their new home

"We could get a mortgage, but do we want to spend the next 30 years being tied down?

"We're now leaning towards spending a year or two in the truck and then hopefully buying a patch of land and doing more building.

"If anything it's inspired us to do more."

Having moved in during the coldest time of year, the pair are looking forward to warmer months ahead.

Sophie said: "It's super cosy but we can't wait to sit out in the sun on our roof deck. It's only going to get better."

Track Sophie and Lalli’s journey in the horsebox by following them on Instagram @blackboxbramble.