A 61-YEAR-OLD who suffered life-changing injuries on his 21st birthday has been left devastated after his wheelchair was stolen.

Colin Whitfield and his wife Ann, 47, were shocked to discover the electric wheelchair had been taken from outside their home on Almond Drive in Burtonwood on Sunday.

The couple left their house at 11.30am to celebrate Ann's son's birthday before returning at 2.30pm to find the wheelchair had been stolen.

Ann, who has been married to Colin for four years, said: "We were just devastated.

"It is a lifeline for him as Colin is paraplegic.

"I have arthritis and fibromyalgia so we need the wheelchair to get around.

"We were absolutely furious when we discovered the wheelchair had been stolen.

"I can’t understand why someone would take it."

Colin's life changed forever when he fell down a flight of stairs while celebrating his 21st birthday in 1977.

He also suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease which means he is unable to use his left arm.

The right-handed Pride Go wheelchair provided Colin with the freedom to move around.

The couple, who have been living in Burtonwood since April 2016, left the wheelchair near to the driveway.

The theft has been reported to the police.

After hearing the news, family friend Tom Glenn, from Orford, set up a fundraising page to help the couple pay for a new wheelchair.

So far £750 has been raised with funds still rolling in. 

The 29-year-old said: "It’s absolutely fantastic how much money has been raised so far.

"It’s unbelievable how generous people are when they see people like us in dire straits.

"With a few more donations we will be able to afford to replace Colin’s chair.”

To donate click here.