A Swindon College student was left distraught after his wallet containing a chunk of his grant money went missing on a bus.

Kyrle Simpson, 17, was on his way into Swindon from his home at Bushton, near Wootton Bassett, with £140 in cash to buy materials for his graphic design course.

He discovered his loss when he he got off the bus in Swindon. "I went to reach for my wallet and realised it had gone," he said.

"When I found out it wasn't on the bus I searched all my pockets again just in case I'd missed it, but it wasn't there."

He mum Karen said: "It was such a shock. When he phoned to tell me, I felt as sick as a dog. I could tell how upset he was from his voice. I am absolutely gutted for him."

"He went back to the bus straightaway but someone else was in his seat and no one had seen what happened to his wallet.

"It was a matter of a few minutes," she said.

She explained that as a single mum bringing up her three children up on benefit, she couldn't afford to replace the cash.

The grant money was intended to buy art boards, specialist pens and film for the photography part of his course. The wallet also contained his bus pass and his Student Union card.

She appealed for anyone who may have seen or picked up the wallet to contact the police.

"It is such a horrible thing to happen to him," she added.

"I don't expect see the money again, but it would be great if we could get the bus pass back."

Kyrle was on the 12.50pm Stagecoach service from Wootton Bassett High Street to Swindon Bus Station.

Swindon police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar confirmed the incident was being treated as a theft and appealed for anyone with information to contact police on 01793 528111.