A wheelchair-bound ten-year-old girl has been left housebound this Christmas after thieves stole her grandparents' specially-adapted car.

Mary Fieldhouse, grandmother of cerebral palsy sufferer Chelsea Senior, said it was the third break-in the family had suffered recently.

Now the family, "petrified" in case burglars return, has fortified the home with extra locks.

The latest break-in at their home in Wrose Road, Shipley, was on Saturday, December 7 when burglars stole house and car keys and took the modified car used to transport Chelsea, who lives with her grandparents.

The break-in has left the family distraught.

"I am disgusted to think that somebody could take a disabled person's vehicle," said Mrs Fieldhouse, 58, who is pictured with Chelsea and husband John."

Although the car was found by police, damage to the gear box means it will not be returned to the family until after the new year.

The Renault Kangoo had two of the back seats removed and was fitted with a ramp so that Chelsea could get into the back in her wheelchair.

"The insurance company has given us a courtesy car but it's only got two doors so we have to squeeze Chelsea in," said Mrs Fieldhouse.

"And we can't get her electric wheelchair in the car so she's totally lost her independence," she added.

Chelsea's regular trips to after-school clubs have had to be cancelled and her Christmas plans may have to be changed. Mrs Fieldhouse said: "She asks every day when the car is coming back and it's getting more upsetting as the days pass. The strain of lifting her is getting to us so we're stuck as well really."

The family suspect that they are being targeted and have now barricaded their home against intruders.

Mrs Fieldhouse said: "We have bolts on the doors and locks on the windows, it's like living in a prison. We have got locks everywhere.

"They only took money last time but we're petrified. We've had to change the locks again this month because they took the house keys."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the car had been recovered in Leeds Road, Bradford, but had no fingerprints or marks to highlight who was responsible for the theft. "Our inquiries are continuing," she said.