TWO disabled Kidderminster people have been left without transport after heartless thieves raided their homes.

In separate incidents, a specially adapted powered tricycle was taken from the garage of 46-year-old paraplegic Julian Davies, and a wheelchair stolen from the home of an 80-year-old woman.

Mr Davies, who lives in Whimbrel Grove, Spennells, broke his neck in a car crash in 1972 and has relied on the £500 petrol-driven Honda 70cc tricycle for 20 years.

He said he was "devastated" by the thefts from himself and the elderly woman. Kidderminster Police are investigating the possibility of the thefts being linked but have an "open mind" about the situation.

Mr Davies added: "I am a country person who loves the great outdoors and the tricycle has been a great lifeline to me.

"It is like an off-road wheelchair and enables me to do what I find important. With only a wheelchair, I am confined to the tarmac because it cannot move properly across grass and hills."

The bright red tricycle, which has a green seat, belongs to Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital in Shropshire but has been on long-term loan to Mr Davies who has carried out modifications to it.

Thieves struck at the garage between 1pm on Saturday and 8.30am the following day.

The £400 wheelchair was stolen from the woman's George Street home along with a television between noon on August 15 and 9.15pm last Thursday.

Anyone with information about the thefts should call Kidderm-inster Police on 01562 820888.