Hastings: Mum says family Christmas presents stolen in burglary

A single mother with six children said her family's Christmas presents were stolen in a burglary at her home.

Siobhan Reilly said furniture was smashed, her bed urinated on, and the electricity lead for the fridge freezer cut during the raid in Hastings.

"As soon as I saw that the presents were gone my knees buckled and I broke down - it was the worst feeling of my life," Miss Reilly said.

Sussex Police said "a man and a girl" were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Miss Reilly said her home was left in a "disgusting" state, with her and her children's clothes "chucked all over the hallway floor".

She said the family had no food because the electricity lead for her fridge-freezer had been cut.

The Christmas presents that she had been buying for her children since July were taken, she said.

"I had planned this amazing Christmas for all of them," she said,

"I was picturing their little faces, and now that I don't have that it's awful. I feel like I'm being stabbed in the heart every time I think about it."

She said her children were upset and angry.

"I keep asking myself what I've done to deserve it, because it was just evil," she added.

Sussex Police said: "A man and a girl were arrested on suspicion of burglary and released on bail while the investigation continues."

Officers asked anyone with information to contact them.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].