CRUEL thieves have attempted to steal a mobility scooter which is an Ashburton cancer patient's lifeline to the outside world.

Jacqui Hague, of Home Park, who was sleeping downstairs because of her condition, was awakened by her two border collies barking at around 2am.

'I was a bit nervous about going to the door at that time of morning, and by the time I got there they had gone,' she said.