POLICE are linking the burglary at a stroke victim's specially adapted home with another incident on the same day.

Officers today said a car stolen from Burns Drive, Baxenden, had been found abandoned in Second Avenue, Church, where the home of quadriplegic Jenny Broom was broken into.

Jenny, 23, needs 24-hour care after suffering a stroke in the summer of 2000.

She was left trapped in her home after thieves stole her silver VW Golf saloon containing a hoist to lift her out of her wheelchair.

The vehicle was taken as part of a £17,000 haul on Monday night from the home she shares with husband Aaron, 35.

Detective Inspector Peter Broome yesterday said words failed to describe his contempt for the people responsible.

Today police revealed that a green Ford Focus, registration T479 LGB, which was found abandoned in Second Avenue had been stolen from Burns Drive at 2.30am on Tuesday.

Burglars had broken into the house and snatched a set of keys after disturbing the owners by breaking ornaments as they climbed through the kitchen window.

PC Jane Laurenson of Accrington police added that a third stolen vehicle, from the Bury area, had been found abandoned in Southwood Drive, which is close to Burns Avenue.

She said: "The two burglaries are being linked. The situation with the cars is unusual but not unheard of and there are various possibilities as to exactly why this has happened.

"I would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious early on Tuesday in these areas to contact police, especially if they saw either of the vehicles which were stolen from Hyndburn."

The VW Golf, registration MK51 OHN has not been recovered.

Anybody with information should call police on 01254 51212.