A WOMAN who was left paralysed after being hit by a car has been robbed of her freedom after her specialist hand bikes were stolen in a “cruel and underhand act”.

Liz Walker was devastated when she noticed the two bikes had been stolen from the shed at her home on Seaforth Road, Westcliff.

The hand bikes attach to her wheelchair and have gears and brakes to make mobility easier.

Liz has been using hand bikes to gain more freedom to live her life after a horrific accident which left her paralysed.

In 1995, Liz was hit by a car while on her motorbike when she was in her late 20s.

She was then caught under another vehicle and dragged for 30 metres – leaving her paralysed.

She has branded the theft an “underhand and cruel act”.

Liz said: “I went to the shed and I couldn’t see them.

“It was then obvious that someone had come into my shed and taken them.

“I was devastated.

“It does make you feel uncomfortable because you think they may have targeted you.

“I checked other people’s back gates and I was the only one that was broken into.

“My shed was locked.

“You just don’t think it will happen to you.

“I think this is a particularly underhand and cruel act.”

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Speaking about the impact the theft has had on her day to day life, Liz added: “I used to like running. After the accident, I felt like my life was over.

“The hand bikes give you your freedom.

“It’s really difficult – I’m seeing everyone going to the beach and going outside.

“I’ve been waiting for the hot weather to join them and be among everyone but now I can’t.

“I’m more isolated without the bikes. I feel really sad and really devastated by it.”

While Liz is still able to drive and use a wheelchair, she’s limited to how far she can go without the added assistance of the hand bikes.

She said: “In a wheelchair I can’t take my dog out for a walk.

“I’m not very stable in a wheelchair compared to with the hand bikes.

“It’s not the same.

“They’re not just something you can go to the shop and buy.

“They’ve made it more difficult for me.”

Liz is pleading for anyone with information on her hand bikes to come forward as soon as possible and leave them at a police station.