A woman has been left traumatised after she was forced to walk through town in just a bikini because her possessions were stolen from a crowded beach.

The 33-year-old designer also suffered cuts to her feet during the distressing incident.

She had been swimming in West Beach near Seasalter between 5.15pm and 6pm when her bag, which contained possessions worth hundreds of pounds, was swiped.

Her mother says the incident has "completely changed" her daughter and "ripped her heart apart".

“It’s affected her mental health,” she said.

“It will take her weeks to recover.

“It could have a long-term impact on her. She’s not the same; she won’t be able to work for many weeks.

“It’s a tragedy. She would go swimming every day to relax, but she hasn’t done it since - she’s just been at home.”

Her mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, lives in Whitstable with her daughter.

The bag contained the victim’s iPhone, purse, clothes, sandals, driving licence, prescription sunglasses and keys.

“These kids probably think this was a game, but she was left without any clothes or sandals – almost naked and vulnerable,” the 67-year-old continued.

"She would go swimming every day to relax, but she hasn’t done it since - she's just been at home" - the vitim's mother

“She walked home for about half-an-hour without shoes and she had to be lent a t-shirt.

“She had several cuts on her feet afterwards.”

A notebook containing sketches for her job was also in her bag when it was taken.

Police confirmed they are investigating the incident and have appealed for information.

The suspects are believed to be a girl and a boy who are both white and aged between 14 and 15.

The boy was slim, blonde and shirtless; while the girl had a long ponytail and was wearing black shorts with a frilly white top.

The mother said: “We want this incident to serve as a warning to everybody that it is not safe any more to leave your belongings unattended.

“I cannot cope seeing my daughter completely destroyed by such a nasty, malicious act.

“You cannot live for the rest of your life with the guilt that you have destroyed somebody’s mental health.”

The theft happened on Friday, August 3.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference ZY/045142/18.