A grieving mother has been reunited with precious pictures of her dead son after a purse-snatcher suffered a pang of conscience.

Ann Collard, whose son Danny was found dead with knife wounds in March this year, was devastated when she realised her wallet had been stolen.

It also contained pictures of her mother Sarah Parker, 77, who collapsed and died ten days after hearing of Danny's death.

One irreplaceable photo showed Sarah cradling Danny at his Christening.

Another showed Danny with his brother Joseph, 17.

Ann, 49, was shopping in Asda at Brighton Marina when her purse went missing.

She said: "I told the staff and they were brilliant with me. They tried looking in all the bins and really looked after me.

"I was very, very upset. It would not normally bother me, but those pictures are my most treasured possessions.

"They also stole £210, which is all the money I have for the week, and all my credit cards.

"I already have nothing left in the world apart from my son Joseph, who is unable to talk because of his autism."

Ann, of Lower Bevendean Avenue, Brighton, also lost an "In Memoriam" card from the joint funeral service for Danny and her mother.

The thieves must have spotted the card as, after a poor night's sleep, Ann woke up to find a parcel on her doormat with the precious pictures inside.

She said: "I was inconsolable about the pictures as they were the only ones of Danny in the last five years.

"But when I picked up this brown letter all the pictures fell out. My heart leapt with joy when I saw them, although the thieves didn't return the money.

"Whoever stole them definitely had a conscience and would have seen the funeral card."

A police spokeswoman said: "The thief obviously suffered a pang of conscience and realised the importance of the photos to Mrs Collard.

"The police are still appealing to the public for witnesses to this robbery."