A disabled pensioner fears he is being targeted by criminals following two attacks on his electric wheelchair.

Geoffrey Manser, 82, of Craven Road, Kemp Town, Brighton, says his blue £2,000 Quattro wheelchair - which he bought from his savings - is his "lifeline".

On Friday morning he woke up to find that a blanket on his wheelchair - which was parked in a passageway by his ground floor flat - had been set alight.

The attack comes only a month after vandals ripped the seat and slashed the tyres of the nine-month-old wheelchair.

Then the pensioner, who cannot walk far, was unable to leave his home for two weeks while his vehicle was sent away for repair.

Mr Manser said: "I'm absolutely devastated. I don't know why people are attacking me in this way as I don't do anyone any harm. It must be a vendetta.

"Without the vehicle I would be unable to go shopping in Churchill Square or go to the seafront in the summer which I really look forward to.

"I would be unable to get to the Somerset Day Centre unless they provided an ambulance. The vehicle really is my lifeline."

In the latest incident the alarm was raised by a neighbour from upstairs who spotted the flames.

He arrived in time to save the vehicle, but he fears those responsible for the attacks may return.

Mr Manser, who has lived in the flat for more than 20 years, said: "I don't know who is carrying out these terrible attacks, but something must be done."

He now hopes Brighton and Hove Council will provide a ramp so he can park the chair in an outbuilding in the council-owned block.

A council spokeswoman said: "At present we have no record of him making a request for a ramp, but he may have contacted the wrong department.

"We would urge him to contact the occupational therapists in the social care and health department, and they will make a recommendation based on his needs."

A police spokesperson said: "This sort of mindless vandalism is made worse when people target vulnerable pensioners like Mr Manser in this case.

"We will be patrolling the area and would ask anyone with information about this incident to contact us."