Callous youths left a blind man helpless when they stole his guide dog's harness and threw it into a tree.

Stuart Thornton, 55, of Spring Gardens, Cowling, was out for a stroll in the village's Carr Head estate - with his treasured black Labrador Norman - last Saturday morning when the incident happened. He had let Norman off for a run and placed the harness under a horse chestnut tree while he searched for conkers.

Mr Thornton said: "I could hear two lads laughing. They could only have been between 13 and 16.

"When I returned from seeking Norman I realised they had taken the harness."

Since the age of four, Mr Thornton has had a diabetic condition, which claimed his sight in 1993.

He was awarded the Alan Nabarro Medal last year after living with the condition for 50 years. Ironically, Mr Nabarro waged a lifelong battle against discrimination of people with diabetes.

Mr Thornton added: "Those lads knew what they were doing - it is disgusting behaviour.

"I was panicking and in a right mess. I couldn't ring anyone because I didn't have my phone with me. You don't think anything is going to happen in place like that."

Mr Thornton, who does have a very small amount of sight in one eye, eventually saw the harness hanging in the tree and two Good Samaritans came to help him.

He added: "I am very grateful and would like to thank those who came to my aid."

A mother and daughter who were walking their dog, Maureen Ingham and Lucy Jardine, brought their 4x4 into the field to try to reach the harness but were unsuccessful. It was finally reclaimed with help from Paul Swinson and William Booth, two builders who were working nearby.

Mr Thornton said because of his condition he was unable to report the youths to the police, as he could not give an accurate description.

He is a voluntary speaker for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and has taught in schools throughout the Keighley area.

Kevin Baldwin, of Keighley and District Blind Association, said: "I think this is a despicable act and those responsible should be ashamed of themselves.

"Stuart would not have been able to use his dog without that harness and he is one of our most active committee members - visiting schools and so forth. But some people did put themselves out to help Stuart and I have to praise their actions. It is nice to know there are still some good folk about."