Opportunist thieves have stolen five scooters from Enys Road and from retirement housing in The Avenue.

For those victims who do not have insurance, or leave their vehicles outside rendering their insurance invalid, the thefts could cost them £700 to £4,000 for a replacement.

Chris Davies, a partner of family firm Weald Mobility, which provides many local scooters, said ignition keys stolen with two vehicles in Enys Road can be used in all scooters provided by the firm, and were used to steal three more from Homegate House in The Avenue two weeks later.

Mr Davies said, "It is very sad that there are people out there who do this to the disabled and elderly. These scooters are their lifeline really to get out and about and they are not cheap.

"When they are stolen, at that age it really upsets people and it is terrible."

The three at Homewood House, stored out of sight at the back of the building, were insured by their owners but because they were left outside, Mr Davies said an insurance claim was unlikely to be successful.

One of the scooters taken from the sheltered housing belonged to a seriously ill 86-year-old. Nephew Roger Crawford, said she had to make regular hospital visits and had saved more than £1,000 to buy a scooter six months ago.

"CCTV footage shows the thief getting on the scooter and driving away bold as brass," he said, "This man is a scumbag, what he has done is unforgivable and I hope he gets his comeuppance."

Mr Davies said it was highly unusual for so many scooters to be taken, with a maximum of five or six having been reported stolen each year in Weald Mobility's 40 years of trading.

The Seaside-based company is offering help and advice on securing and insuring mobility scooters. Call 638046.

Meanwhile, Sussex Police are appealing for witnesses to the thefts at Homegate House which were reported at 11.53am on November 23 and at 12.18pm and 3.54pm on November 24.

Call 0845 60 70 999.