A cancer sufferer today told how she had been robbed of her independence by thieves who stole and then stripped her car.

Bernetta Moore, who had an operation to remove a lung just weeks earlier, said the theft had left her housebound and even jeopardised vital radiotherapy treatment she must receive.

The 40-year-old's Vauxhall Cavalier was taken from her Fagley home but found a day later dumped in Holme Wood.

Miss Moore, of Intake Road, said that before she could have it recovered, thieves began stripping the wheels, engine and everything else - until there was virtually nothing left save the petrol cap, nuts and bolts.

She explained that police found the car but said it was her responsibility to remove it. "My partner Ronaldo went down to see if it could be driven back but it couldn't."

Within three days, before the family had arranged for it to be towed away, the car had disappeared in various stages.

"My father went up and found that three wheels and the spare, the engine and the stereo system had been stripped.

"When I went up on the Wednesday, all that was left was a pendant that had been hanging in the car, the petrol cap and some nuts and bolts."

Now Miss Moore does not know how she get to hospital in Leeds where she faces 25 consecutive days of gruelling radiotherapy.

Last month, she had a cancerous lung removed.

"Ronaldo's brother had given us the car so he could drive me across for each session but that's impossible now. I don't know if I will be able to arrange transport with the hospital because it's so late in the day."

And she said: "This has left me housebound. I want to get out and make the most of my time because I don't know how long I have left.

"This has robbed me of my independence. I love watching my son play football but I cannot do that now."