A DISABLED man left stranded when thieves stole his wheelchair has thanked the people who helped trace it.

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Jeffrey Ball, 49, has been reunited with his wheelchair after it was stolen from the front porch of his house in Hartlepool on Monday night.

It was found outside a house in nearby Spalding Road, on Fens estate, but was so badly damaged that it cannot be used again.

Thankfully, Hartlepool Wheelchair Centre, which supplied him with the original chair, lent him one until he can get a new chair.

Mr Ball, who cannot get around without his specially-made lightweight chair, said he has mixed feelings about it being returned.

He said: "It's wonderful that the public have rallied round and found it again. But it has been completely smashed. The thieves have made sure that I will not be able to use it again. It is neither use nor ornament now.

"Thankfully, Hartlepool Wheelchair Centre phoned on New Year's Eve to say I could borrow one until I get fixed up.

"The public and the police have been superb throughout all of this and I would like to thank them for their support."

Many people, moved by Mr Ball's plight, rang Hartlepool police station with offers of a loan of their own wheelchairs.

Police say opportunist thieves snatched Mr Ball's chair, valued at £200, at about 6.20pm while his wife, Alwyn, was helping her father move into a nursing home. She had left the front door unlocked for only ten minutes when they struck.

No one has been arrested for the theft and police inquiries are still under way.