A Bromley war hero who flew Spitfires in WWII was overjoyed when people donated a new mobility scooter after his was stolen.

Rodney Scrase, 94, had been out to the shops on the morning of June 3 in his mobility scooter before leaving it outside his house when he returned.

Mr Scrase’s wife Sue, 68, said: “He took it up to buy a paper and left it outside. 20 minutes later I thought I’ll put it in the garage but it had gone.

“I asked someone and they said they saw a blue transit van come and two men took it.

“They probably just drove past and saw it, it’s noticeable a mobility scooter but they didn’t care.

“He’s very dependent on it, he can’t walk far without it, if I don’t take him out he’s a bit stuck.

“It had a great impact on him.”

Mr Scrase, a father of four, grandfather of four and great-grandfather of four, served with 72 Squadron in 1942 before being promoted to Flight Lieutenant two years later.

He saw action over Tunisia, Sicily and Italy earning numerous medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

MORE TOP STORIES News of the theft reached Dave Jones, one of the volunteers at the Shoreham Aircraft Musuem which Mr Scrase regularly visits.

He rang Geoff Nutkins, curator of the Shoreham Aircraft Museum, to see what they could do to help.

Mr Jones, 74, from Faygate Crescent in Bexleyheath, said: “We thought we should try and get him a new one.

“He gives so much of his time, he’s really loved. It only took about a week to raise the money.

“He’s so active and he loves going out, it’s fairly hard for him to walk.”

On Sunday (June 14) Mr and Mrs Scrase were invited to the museum for the surprise presentation after numerous volunteers pitched in to help raise funds.

Mr Jones added: “We asked him to come down and half way through we took him down and presented him with new scooter, he was quite overcome – he and zoomed off.”

Mr Scrase, from Bishops Avenues, said: “It was a surprise, I’m so grateful for the contribution and support; people are looking after me wonderfully.”