A CHARD cyclist has been left angered after his bike was stolen – just days after he had completed a 1,060-mile cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Paul Butterworth had left his black specialised Secteur bike locked up outside the Cresta sports centre in Chard on August 19, but someone took it sometime between 6pm and 6.45pm.

“If anyone has been offered this bike or bought it in good faith please let me or Chard police know,” he said.

His wife, Caroline, told the News: “The bike was chained up, but the chain was all that Paul found outside when he went to get his bike. Whoever had taken his bike had cut through the chain.

“If anyone has any details please get in touch with Paul. We had a number of anonymous messages that the bike was seen within an hour of it being stolen – attempting to be sold from the back of a red van by two guys in Chard.”

Paul was a member of the Chard Chaingang cycling group which completed a bike ride earlier this summer from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise around £1,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

If you can help find the bike – please contact Paul on 07989-427583. Alternatively contact police on 101 with the crime reference number being 91378/15.