Thieves ruined seven-year-old Natalie De Falco's school holidays by breaking into her family home and stealing her treasured toys.

Natalie and her mum Melanie Camero were enjoying a trip to the park during the half-term break when burglars smashed their way into their home in broad daylight and stole hundreds of pounds' worth of toys.

They took Natalie's laptop computer and a Sega Saturn game console, games for the computers and video tapes.

Mother-of-three Miss Camero, 34, of Flint Close, Portslade, said she cannot afford to replace the toys which were given to Natalie for Christmas by family members because she is a single mother and does not work.

She said: "Natalie hasn't stopped crying and she wants to sleep in my bed with me. It's so cruel to do this to a child."

Miss Camero said both she and her children are now too scared to stay in the house and want to be moved to a new home.

The thieves struck last Thursday lunchtime. They smashed glass in the front door, went to Natalie's bedroom and took her toys.