THE parents of a severely ill toddler have hit out at vandals who destroyed the car the were selling to raise cash to help look after her.

Four-year-old Alexandria Cumberland is one of just 12 known sufferers of the rare Coffin-Siris Syndrome in the country.

As a result of her illness, Alex, who lives with her mum in Pleckgate Road, Blackburn, has severe learning difficulties and cannot talk.

She is also likely to need an operation on her spine once she stops growing.

Giving Alex the care she needs is a costly business for parents Helen and Gary, who recently separated.

The family were counting on the sale of their burgundy Ford Sierra Estate car to add to their budget.

But after leaving it parked on the road overnight outside Gary's East Park Road flat on Tuesday, with a For Sale sign in the window, they awoke to find vandals had wrecked it.

Mum-of-three Helen said: "The car will have to be scrapped, and it's money we could've done with. £500 is a lot of money to anybody.

"Alex needs special food. She has gluten Intolerance and the food is expensive. It's £2 for a packet of biscuits.

"I have two other children, Jonathan, who is seven, and Rebekah, who is two now.

"It's a full-time job looking after the children, just like for any other mother and it is not fair that somebody can come along and do that. "

Alex, who goes to Broadlands Special Needs Nursery School, Roman Road, Blackburn, is one of only 81 sufferers world wide.

Helen, 32, is desperate to meet other families affected by the illness, and doctors who may be able to help.

The family are planning a trip to America next May, where they will meet other sufferers,and Dr Grange Coffin, who discovered the Syndrome back in the 1970s.

Helen said: "When you think about it there are 150 billion people in the world, and only 81 people have the syndrome

The support group are organising this trip to America, on May 18. Then we are taking Alex to Disneyland afterwards."

Alex was diagnosed with Coffin Siris Syndrome in October 1999. So far the Cumberlands have raised more than £5,000 for the trip through fund-raising schemes, such as a sponsored head shave and a Christmas charity function at the County Hotel, Blackburn.

The tireless family also run an Internet site devoted to Alex and the syndrome, www.coffin-siris.org.uk.

The website gives advice to families who are affected by the illness, and offers support to help them cope.

A spokesman for Blackburn police said: "Officers will be investigating, but if anyone can help and has further information, they should contact us."

Call Blackburn police on 01254 51212.