A FORMER soldier has been given a new lease of life, thanks to the kindness of an Echo reader.

Wallace Eisenhauer, 91, was left housebound in Laindon when thieves stole his mobility scooter.

He can barely walk a few steps and relies on it to get out of the house and do his food shopping.

But following an appeal in the Echo, Eric Watson came forward to lend him his spare scooter for as long as he needs it.

Mr Watson, 75, of Grimston Road, Basildon, said: “It just annoyed me that somebody would do that sort of thing, to actually steal someone’s means of transport.

“It’s worse than nicking a car, because if you’re disabled, the only way you can get around is with a scooter.”

Mr Watson, who is diabetic, uses a scooter himself, but had a small one as a spare.

He delivered it to Mr Eisenhauer’s house yesterday to help him get back to normal.

Mr Eisenhauer expressed his thanks and added: “It’s ideal. I don’t think it’s really been used. At least I’ll be able to do some shopping.”

Mr Eisenhauer, who spent three years at the Stalag 4B prison camp during the Second World War, had his scooter stolen between 6pm on Tuesday, March 1 and 9am the following Thursday.

Anyone with information can call police on 0300 3334444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.