MEAN THEFT OF PENSIONER'S PRIDE AND JOY

10.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 6th Jun 2005

Eastleigh's new MP Chris Huhne joined 88 year old local resident Mrs Frances Williams today in an appeal for any information that could lead to a recovery of her stolen mobility chair.

Mrs Williams, pictured here in her Eastleigh garden with Chris Huhne, had her Silver Leader electric mobility chair taken from the back of her home on a Saturday night or Sunday morning two weeks ago. She had it charging up ready to go out in the morning.

She warned other pensioners to be on the look out for anybody trying to take the mobility chairs.

"I had only had it for a little less than a year" said Mrs Williams "but it was my pride and joy. It made a big difference to my life being able to get around the centre of town again and into Safeway to do my shopping".

Mrs Williams said that the chair was a silver colour and had a serial number 26408, and the police would very much like any information that might help its return.

"Anybody who takes a pensioner's mobility chair must be lacking in some basic human feelings" said Mr Huhne. "This is an unbelievably mean and despicable thing to do. It has deprived an old person of an absolute essential to their quality of life.

"I hope that anybody with information will come forward so that the thief or thieves can be found and punished."

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