THIEVES have stolen electrical wiring worth a few pounds from a house being built for a man paralysed from the waist down in a traffic accident - but it has cost hundreds of pounds to have the property partially rewired.

Former paramedic and father-of-five Bob Lister is having his new home built in Low Bentham Road, Bentham. He lost the use of his legs after being thrown from his motorcycle when a driver pulled out in front of him on the A65 in Giggleswick in September 2012.

The thieves cut the wires, which were to be connected to the fuse box, in the garage.

The scrap value of the wires is only about £20, but the labels for the entire house wiring were on the ends. Mr Lister and his wife Annette have had to call in electricians to retrace all the wiring and replace about 25 per cent of it.

He said: "It's annoying and very frustrating. The wiring itself was worth so little but the theft has put everything back by more than a week. What is strange is that there was quite a bit of copper piping but they just left that.

"They have caused no end of trouble for next to nothing."

Mr Lister said the site had now been secured and he was hoping that the house would be completed by November.

Police have issued an appeal for any information which could help to track down the thieves.

PC Laurence Martin, who is dealing with the case, said: "The new will house will enable Bob and Annette to have a far greater quality of life.

"The theft would not generate much cash for the offenders but it has had an enormous impact on the couple, both in time and the cost of the extra work to rectify the damage."

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Martin at ingleton Police Station on 101. Alternatively, call the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.