YOBS have plunged to a sick new low after cutting the brakes on a pensioner's motorised scooter.

When James Rimmer, 67, of Elizabeth House sheltered accommodation in Sudellside, Darwen, set off down a hill his scooter sped out of control.

The frantic pensioner was desperately trying to bring the vehicle to a halt, but was unable to prevent it hurtling across a busy road.

A motorist had to slam on the brakes of his car and narrowly missed crashing into the scooter.

As the road levelled out, Mr Rimmer brought the scooter to a halt by using his feet as makeshift brakes at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Mr Rimmer, who has suffered three strokes and two heart attacks, was planning on a holiday but will have to cancel his plans and use the funds to pay for repairs to his scooter.

He said: "I can't stand the vandalism. It's not right.

"The kids want a good hiding. They should have a bit of respect.

"I feel awful. I'm worked up. I was going on holiday to Morecambe and now I'm going to have to spend my holiday money on this.

"I was supposed to be paying for it this week."

Mr Rimmer had just spent a few hours visiting his granddaughter in Scholes Street and left his scooter outside in an alleyway so it did not obstruct the pavement.

When he left her home he noticed the mirror had been twisted and the front basket had been thrown on the floor so he fixed them and set off.

He turned on the scooter in Scholes Street, which is on a hill ,and began hurtling down towards Harwood Street.

His daughter and full-time carer Beverley Horridge, 42, of Lightbown Street said: "He went to use it and it went down the hill and a car came around and nearly hit him.

"When he got to the bottom he couldn't stop it.

"It just went out into the road. It frightened him so he just switched it off.

"It could have caused him another heart attack.

"He's very upset. He gets worked up and starts coughing and chokes.

"He hasn't slept all night. It's important for him to be calm."

Mr Rimmer was then forced to struggle back up the hill to his granddaughter's home using garden walls to support himself.

The former builder said he was now relying on expensive taxis to get around and a costly repair bill.

Linda Salazar, spokesperson for Age Concern Lancashire, slammed the yobs' actions.

He said: "They are a lifeline for elderly people and for them to be tampered with it's silly and completely unnecessary and it effects that old person so much."

A police spokesman said the incident had been reported to them and that an investigation was underway.

Anyone with information should call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.