Charity cyclist's appeal after bikes stolen

Claire Calland says the specialist two-wheeled vehicles taken from her home on Redwood Avenue in Orrell have a lot of sentimental value and urged anyone with information to contact police.

The offenders struck at around 2.30am on December 12 and took half a dozen bikes which Claire and her husband were planning to use in several charity events including the Bradford Youth Exchange.

So far none of the bikes have been recovered.

Claire said: “This year my aim was to race in a number of competition level events to raise money for a number of charities. Unfortunately I’m now limited to the events I can enter.

“The bikes were extremely personal to us. My downhill bike, for example, was hand built in our kitchen after I sourced all of the parts individually. It took months of saving and hours of research and being such a small build would not suit the majority of downhill riders.

“The sad thing is, every one of those bikes was an anniversary or birthday present. Our bikes have accompanied us on every adventure and are the glue in our marriage. They are our common ground; our shared passion. They have travelled across the UK and Europe.”

PC Ian Corcoran from Wigan Police Station said: “This is a terrible thing to happen to anybody but is made worse by the fact that the victims used their bikes to raise money for charity.

“It’s not just Claire and her husband that have lost out, but the charities too and I would call on people with any information to help us get these bikes back quickly.

“All six bikes are very distinctive and I would urge anyone who knows where they are being hidden or offered for sale to do the decent and honourable thing and call the police.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or ring independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.