HOODED knife-wielding burglars stole cash from a disabled man's pocket as he lay helpless in bed.

Wheelchair-bound stroke and heart attack victim Alan Proudlove, 56, (right) who lives alone, has only limited use of his right limbs and speaks with difficulty, said it was the fourth time he had been targeted at his Tyldesley home.

Now his family have called for tighter security around the 'rabbit warren' estate which, with its maze of ginnels and alleyways, can be a nightmare for residents but a crooks' paradise.

Former crane driver Alan, with the help of daughters Karen, 24, and Kelly, 21, relived his latest horrific ordeal.

At around 9.30pm on Saturday burglars forced open a living room window at his Charleston Court ground-level flat, part of a council-owned housing complex at the west end of Tyldesley town centre.

Mr Proudlove told the Journal: "I was shaking, terrified because there was nothing I could do. I just had to lie there while I watched this tall, masked figure go through my things. He stole £50 from a jacket pocket."

Daughter Kelly added: "They systematically searched the house while my dad was in bed. Fortunately they didn't harm him, but he was terrified, lying there in bed helpless while they stole things."

Her boyfriend Andrew Gallagher said: "We understand the burglars were in the house from 9.30pm until about 10pm. We found two kitchen knives, a bread knife and a smaller knife, which they must have picked up from the kitchen in case of trouble. When they left Alan watched through his bedroom window and could see them run off. He then managed to somehow wriggle in to his electric wheelchair beside his bed and -- still in his pyjamas -- went to a neighbour's home and raised the alarm." As well as stealing cash the burglars took a £400 black coloured Technics stereo system with multi-CD player, a gold sovereign ring daughter Karen had bought her dad for Christmas, plus a selection of compact discs, a royal blue Nokia 5210 mobile phone, a £150 worth of gas savings stamps and £100 in TV licence stamps. They even stole two packets of cigarettes and a lighter but Mr Proudlove says the raiders never uttered a word during his ordeal. But callous attacks are something he has experienced before. Two years ago a youth followed Alan in his wheelchair and when he opened the door the teenager followed him inside and stole a coat while Alan could only watch helpless. Daughter Kelly fumed: "This is the fourth time he has been robbed. I can't believe people can be so sick and do this especially to a disabled person. He doesn't feel safe any more." And her sister Karen said: "There is an alarm button in the flat but that is in the hallway -- what use is it there if dad is in bed? We also think there should be security lighting and cameras so residents on the estate can sleep more easily." A council spokesman said: "We are sorry to hear about Mr Proudlove's problem. Where he lives is not sheltered accommodation but a mixed block of flats and other homes. His alarm therefore is a private matter and not connected to a central alarm as it would be in a sheltered block. Meanwhile an officer will be visiting Mr Proudlove today to discuss his situation because we feel that in view of his medical problems he should consider transferring to a sheltered scheme with a centrally monitored alarm."