A STROKE victim who needs 24-hour care has been left stranded after thieves stole her specially-adapted car.

Burglars struck at Jenny Broom's Accrington house early on Tuesday as she and husband, Aaron, who works for a Bolton printing firm, were sleeping.

The thieves kicked in the kitchen window to gain access to the house, in Second Avenue, Church, which had to be adapted after Jenny had a stroke in the summer of 2000. The rare brain disorder the 23-year-old suffered left her quadriplegic and in need of round-the-clock care.

Among the items taken by the thieves were the keys to the couple's VW Golf, which contained a special hoist Jenny uses to be lifted in and out of her wheelchair. The thieves drove off in the car.

A stroke support group today condemned the theft as "despicable" and police investigating the crime said they were outraged that the burglars would target a severely disabled woman.

Aaron said the theft had left Jenny terrified and confined to the house.

The 32-year-old added: "The thieves would have seen that the house is specially adapted straight away, but that didn't seem to bother them. I think they are disgusting to do something like this."