THIEVES have made a 96-year-old man a virtual prisoner in his own home.

They have stolen a wooden ramp from outside Victor Briggs' house on Balmoral Avenue in Crosland Moor which means he can no longer get his motorised scooter out.

Mr Briggs, whose wife Mary died three years ago, said: "It's left me stuck just at present. I've got two sets of four steps up the house with a long platform in between.

"I drive the scooter down the ramp, stop on the platform and then move the ramp over the next steps and drive down them too.

"I can't thing why anyone would want to take something of such low value, but it means I can't get my scooter out of my house."

Mr Briggs has had the Wispa scooter for about two years and keeps it tucked away under his stairs.

He has suffered from leg ulcers in recent years and uses the scooter mainly to go to Crosland Moor Post Office or the post box.

He first noticed the ramp had vanished from outside his house on Saturday evening.

He said: "I have to say the Wispa's the worst vehicle I've ever driven.

"It's got solid wheels and no suspension."

The first vehicle he drove was a 1912 Scottish Argyle lorry.

In the late 1920s he set up in business as a wireless engineer and then worked in a Radar unit during the Second World War.

Many of his colleagues were killed.

He worked as an electronics engineer at Woods Music Shop for around 40 years.

Sgt Tim O'Sullivan, of Huddersfield Police, said: "It's a mystery as to why anyone would want to steal a wooden ramp, but clearly it is important we get it back to the victim as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should contact Huddersfield police helpdesk on 01484 436659.