A family have said they are suffering a campaign of persecution after vehicles adapted for their daughter's wheelchair were twice vandalised.

Mary-Jayne Allen, 20, of Spencer Crescent, Rose Hill, Oxford, was going to visit her brother's grave but the specially-converted van had been ransacked - just weeks after her old car was burned out.

Car parts have also been stolen from the family's garden on several occasions.

Her father, Arthur Allen, 53, a coach driver, said: "I'm almost 100 per cent sure I know who did it, but the police don't want to know.

"The thieves know that the van is for someone who uses a wheelchair - it seems they did it on purpose.

"Now it's Christmas and yet again, I have got to spend hundreds of pounds to repair the damage."

When Mr Allen went outside to prepare the van for his daughter, he found the back doors ajar, the front door ripped off, the rear lights stolen and the inside vandalised.

The Allens' 16-year-old son David was killed in a motorcycle accident in November 2004, but the thefts mean they have missed two 'David's day' visits to Botley Cemetery.

Miss Allen, who works at a Rose Hill nursery, was too upset to speak about the van, but her parents say she is very angry. She has been left stranded while the van is being repaired, relying on people to lift and carry her wheelchair when she wants to leave the house.

Her mother, Linda Allen, 53, said: "This time of year is never great for us because our son was buried in December two years ago, but this just makes it even worse."

When Miss Allen's Ford Fiesta, worth £1,000, was written off in October, a number of youths were seen fleeing the scene of the car fire, but no arrests were made.

Police spokesman Toby Shergold said: "A family living in Spencer Crescent have reported a number of incidents including their vehicle being broken into and a vehicle being stolen.

"These incidents are being investigated. Because there is an on-going investigation, we cannot comment further but we would like to reassure the family that these incidents are being looked into and if they have any concerns, they should contact us."

Anyone with information should contact police on 08458 505505.