A KIND-HEARTED group of neighbours have stepped in to help a Wirral dad whose vital mobility scooter was stolen by thieves.

Andrew Sim, from Prenton, told the Globe last week how he was left devastated when he discovered his scooter had disappeared from outside the building where he lives.

It meant he had no means of transport and he said the theft had “taken away his legs” as he could become housebound.

However after reading of Mr Sim’s plight, a residents’ association at Harvest Court in Moreton decided to donate their own mobility scooter out of their funds.

Barbara Allmark, who is part of the group, said she and her friends felt they needed to help in some way.

She said: “Our home manager put up the article about Mr Sim in our lift so everyone would see and all felt so awful for him. There are many people living here who have mobility problems so we could completely sympathise with him when he said how much it had affected him.

“We know how lucky we are to be able to keep the scooters here securely so it was an easy decision to donate the scooter in our charity shop to him.

“We hope it will give him back his independence and allow him to get out and about again.”

Mr Sim, 46, suffers from cerebral palsy and has recently also undergone major surgery to his spleen, stomach and pancreas therefore the scooter was more important than ever.

And he said he was “overwhelmed” when he was told of the residents’ associations generosity.

The father-of-one said: “I really don’t know what to say, I’m speechless at how kind people can be. I am thrilled and so very grateful to them.”

Anyone with information on the theft, which took place between July 29 and July 30 can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.