A DISTRAUGHT mum says her disabled son's health will go downhill after thieves robbed him of a vital lifeline.

Alex Tetstall said crooks who stole the saddle used on son Gage's pony, Bobby, have damaged his efforts to cope with an agonising disease.

Five-year-old Gage has duchenne muscular dystrophy, a debilitating condition which gradually destroys muscle tissue but can be stalled by regular exercise.

She said: "Riding Bobby really keeps Gage going, it is an important activity for him. His health is going to weaken much more quickly without it as riding is a great form of physiotherapy.

"It is his social life. He finds it difficult to do other types of physical activity. He cannot join in with the other children because he is scared of being pushed over."

Mrs Tetstall, 31, said she "could not believe" robbers took the child-sized saddle overnight on Thursday from the stables off Chadwick Lane in Hartlebury.

She said it would take at least two months before the saddle could be replaced.

"It is going to cost at least £85.

"We are just coming up to the summer and now his riding has been taken away from him.

"My husband and I are in shock about this. We can't believe it has happened. To take what is clearly a child's saddle is awful."

Mrs Tetstall said the family, of Watchtower Road, Stourport, had also been robbed of a shared pastime.

"We go out riding as a family most nights of the week - it is the one thing we always do together but they also took my saddle, which cost even more than Gage's.

"He is going to be in a wheelchair by the age of 11 and will get worse much sooner if he can't keep up his riding."

Anyone with information about the incident should call Kidderminster Police on 08457 444 888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.