AN 82-year-old cancer sufferer was robbed of £250 in cash when callous thieves attacked him on his mobility scooter.

The attack has been condemned by local councillors and disability campaigners, who branded the crime ‘heinous’ and ‘despicable’.

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The incident happened when the man was travelling along Galligreaves Street in Blackburn in his scooter.

He was approached by two men who blocked his path and tried to engage him in conversation.

One of the men is believed to have forcibly taken hold of the victim’s arm and removed his wallet from his trousers pocket.

Both men then made off from the area in the direction of Duckworth Street.

The men were both described as white and in their twenties and were wearing hooded tops at the time of the incident.

Chair of the Blackburn-based National Disabled Action Group Eddie Duxbury said: “It’s a despicable act. The disabled are under pressure as it is from this government, and really they don’t need any other aggravation like being mugged.

“I’m horrified, it was probably his pension, it’s heinous.”

Mill Hill ward councillor Carol Walsh said: “It’s absolutely horrendous, it’s a shame, and nobody wants that happening to anybody. I feel sorry for him, my sympathy goes out to him, and I hope he’s okay and that he recovers.

“I hope the police catch the men who did it.”

DS Ian Procter from Blackburn CID said: “This is a despicable crime against a particularly vulnerable man who is wheel chair bound and suffers from cancer.

“I would appeal to anyone with the slightest piece of information to contact the police to assist in bringing those responsible to justice as soon as possible.

“I would particularly like to speak with anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Galligreaves Street/Duckworth Street area around 9.45am on Friday.”

Anyone with information call the police on 101 quoting LC-20140829-0368.