A DISABLED dad is furious after vandals caused more than £1,000 of damage to the car he relies on as a lifeline for his young family.

And it is the second time in as many months that Neville Williams' seven-seater Fiat Ulysse has been targeted while parked outside his home in Queen Street, Clayton-le-Moors.

The first time vandals caused more than £100 damage by smashing two back lights on the £20,000 people-carrier, and now it has been badly scratched.

Neville, 33, who was crippled in a motorbike smash, said: "I felt devastated when I saw what had happened. It really upset me and I just thought: 'Yeah, Happy New Year to you as well'. It's not just because we cannot afford to get it repaired but because it reminds me how my health has deteriorated from how I used to be.

"Before the accident I was a mechanic and I would have fixed it myself but now I can't even hold a cup of tea in my hand without spilling it, and this just serves to show me that." Neville, who was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three months ago, is cared for 24 hours a day by his wife Penny Old, 28, and has four children aged four to 11.

He added: "We needed this car because it is illegal to have four children in the back of a normal vehicle, but we have to borrow to pay for our part in the Motability scheme.

"Then when I was diagnosed with MS we had to scrimp and save to get my wife through her driving test because I can't drive any more.

"We just can't afford to put this right and because of vandals our vehicle is damaged. I think envy might be behind it because people look at this family and think we don't work and here we are with a £20,000 car.

"But that vehicle is our lifeline and Penny works very hard looking after me. It's just devastating."

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