A GREAT-grandmother has been left stranded after thieves stole her walking stick.

The 80-year-old pensioner had propped the black, folding stick against the wall of a newsagent in Angel Place when it vanished.

The Ronkswood woman, who does not want to be named, condemned the thieves who took her lifeline on Thursday, April 25, branding them the sort of people who would "take sweets from a baby".

As someone who suffers from a heart condition and high blood pressure, the pensioner forked out £20 for the special folding stick, not available on the NHS.

"This is a lot of money for me and without it I'm not very steady on my feet and find it hard to get around," she said.

"As it folds up, I find it very useful to keep in my bag as I feel safe if I become dizzy and need a bit of extra support. I can't believe anyone would take a stick but I suspect it's youngsters who spotted an opportunity and will probably sell it to make some money.

"I had just been to the greengrocer's and then popped into the newsagent.

"I put the stick against the wall and bent down to repack my bags.

"I rushed off to catch the bus and realised I was having a struggle walking when I remembered I had left my stick behind.

"I didn't know what to do but the bus suddenly arrived so I got on."

The following day, she went back to the paper shop hoping someone may have handed it in, but to no avail.

"If someone has a conscience perhaps they would hand it into the warden at Lincoln Green sheltered accommodation," she said.