A disabled woman has hit out at the callous thieves who took her car from outside her home and set fire to it.

Christine Toyne, 53, of Garth Terrace, off Burton Stone Lane, York, said her white Volvo had been vital for her to get out and about.

She suffers from osteoporosis and said she had not worked for many years after being signed off on incapacity benefit.

Christine, who lives with her grandson Damian, 12, said her car had disappeared from outside her house on Tuesday night.

It was found burned out on the fields next to Burton Green Infant School at the other end of Burton Stone Lane.

"I can't get to the doctors and I have to go to hospital for physio one or two times a week," she said.

"I can walk around, but I can't walk far without being in severe pain.

"My doctor told me to walk about as much as possible so I got two greyhounds. They have old injuries and I can't get them to the vet now."

She said: "My disabled stickers were in the window of the car but they still took it. I can't believe how anybody could stoop so low. It's a sad society that leads people to that.

"Nothing's been done, though people saw them."

A spokeswoman for York Police said: "We are investigating but no witnesses have come forward.

"We would appeal to anyone who saw who did this to contact us."

She said car crime had gone down and that the police had introduced off-road units, or police officers on motorbikes, to target these kinds of crimes.

She said: "Cars are dumped in these kinds of places and the units have helped in catching people."

Anyone with information should contact York Police on 01904 631321.

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