Joe Fletcher, 66, has diabetes, and is due to start kidney dialysis three times a week at the end of this year.

To prepare for the treatment Mr Fletcher, who lives in Ericsson Close, Ashby Fields in Daventry, was bought a specially-built wheelchair, but in the early hours of Friday morning it was stolen from in front of his house.

He said: “When I go for dialysis I will be going three times a week for the rest of my life.

“It takes it out of you and you feel very weak, so I got the wheelchair so I could still get out of the house on the days between the treatments.

“My wife had to work two jobs to pay for this and we can’t afford another one. Without a wheelchair I’ll be housebound.”

Mr Fletcher and his wife stored the wheelchair in front of their house, folded up and wrapped in a plastic bag behind a fence next to their bins.

He said: “I was up late and at around 1.30am on Friday I heard something outside that sounded like the bins moving, but I thought it would be the wind. My wife went out to work Friday morning and it was gone.

“What kind of person takes a wheelchair? It must be a scumbag to steal something like that.

“They didn’t even get the footrests because they were inside the house.”

The wheelchair is black, with large wheels and a wide frame. Anyone with information can call Northamptonshire Police on 08453 700700.