Heartache as schoolwork stolen

Charlotte White's All Saints School rucksack was in the hall next to her mother's handbag when a thief entered through the front door at 6am last Friday.

The bag contained her homework, which she had done the night before, lunchbox, calculator, school jumper and pencil case.

Her mum Emma, 31, said: "I was upstairs with the three children when it happened.

"It is very scary to think about and I am still panicky.

"My husband had just left for work. I heard the door click so I thought he had come back in for something.

"The burglar must have just grabbed the bags and gone when he heard me call out.

"Charlotte's bag has All Saints School written all over it but it was dark so he must have thought it was an ordinary rucksack - why else would he have taken it?"

Mrs White said Charlotte ( pictured) was worried she would be in trouble with her teachers because she did not have her homework.

"She was heartbroken and could not believe it had happened," she said. "We were hoping it would be dumped somewhere so if anyone finds it please hand it in to the police."

Mrs White also lost a lot of cash and paperwork which was in her black handbag.

If anybody has any information they are asked to contact PC Andy Simpson at Hastings Police Station on 0845 60 70 999, quoting crime number SH1/37076/03.