A young woman has been left feeling suicidal after she and her disabled mother were subjected to a sickening campaign of abuse.

Sandra Reed, 45, and 21-year-old daughter Emma regularly have insults shouted at them in the streets and have now become the victims of vile internet abuse.

They have been dubbed "benefit cheats" and "lesbians", along with other offensive comments which we cannot repeat.

Sandra is registered disabled due to a number of medical conditions, including severe arthritis and diabetes.

"These small-minded people have destroyed a young girl's life because of all the terrible things they have been saying..." - Sandra Reed

Emma is her carer and even put a sign on her scooter saying "Buggy Bashers" – one of the insults shouted at the pair – to poke fun at herself.

But she says she has been left feeling suicidal at the level of hate being directed at the pair.

Sandra said: "These small-minded people have destroyed a young girl's life because of all the terrible things they have been saying."

The pair, who live in Willesborough, can often be seen riding their mobility scooters around the Ashford area.

While Emma is not disabled, she also uses one of the vehicles to escort her mother - who has collapsed in the past.

But Emma says she has been left feeling suicidal after taunting and bullying from people in the town.

Worried mum Sandra said: "I have lived in Ashford all my life, but now I feel our lives are over.

"We used to enjoy our rides. We'd often go up the country lanes to Wye, but now we can't go out any more unless we really have to. We can't even go on our front drive, because we get abuse or photographed."

They have tried to laugh off the abuse and Emma even put a sign on her scooter saying "Buggy Bashers", one of the abusive comments shouted at the pair, to poke fun at herself.

The pair say the taunts started when they were photographed in their two buggies at the drive-in to a local KFC.

Matters came to a head after members of a new facebook group, called Spotted In Ashford Kent, posted vile messages about the family - including Sandra's late husband Gerry Wilkins, who died in March.

Among the less offensive barrage of abuse, name-calling and images of the pair that were posted, were suggestions the mother and daughter were a lesbian couple.

Others suggested they were benefits cheats, saying Emma had been seen up a ladder putting up Christmas lights.

Sandra said: "Emma can't take any more. She is absolutely distraught over her father's death.

"She doesn't want to be here any more - she's determined to be with her dad. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

"I know the abuse will continue, but if there is anyone out there who has a genuinely good heart, if you see us, please just say hello, just to show Emma she is not alone."

The images and comments made on the Spotted group have been removed after Sandra contacted one of the site's two administrators to voice her concerns.

One of the creators of the Spotted group, who wished to remain anonymous, said he hoped the actions of a minority would not spoil the site for others.

He said: "The page was set up by two of us – one man, one woman – for people to post content anonymously.

"The kind of content we want posted is what people might find interesting or funny.

"The original photo of Sandra and her daughter that was submitted to us was of them at the KFC drive-thru.

"A lot of people found this quite funny, with no intentions of being nasty or spiteful to them. However, many others posted comments which may have been considered offensive."

The man added: "We removed the images when it became apparent that it had gone too far. This wasn't why the page was made, so they were taken down.

"The page has grown with almost 7,000 followers in only a few weeks, and as a result we've not been able to keep on top of all posts.

"There are currently two administrators for the group, who both have full-time commitments. We are looking to arrange for more moderators to be appointed."