POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a teenage boy was left with no transport when thieves stole his bike for the fourth time.

The boy only has the bike to get himself around as his mother was forced to give up driving due to ongoing chemotherapy treatment.

The theft is believed to have taken place in Liden between midnight and 6am this morning.

The bike, which is described as a black and white Cube Aim Competition mountain bike and worth approximately £600, was stolen from a lean-to attached to the family home.

Damage was also caused to a fence where the bike was lifted over.

It is the fourth bike to have been stolen from the victim in the past four years.

Jon Hewlett, from the Priority Crime Team, said: “The theft of this bike has left a young family, who have been through an incredibly difficult time in recent years, completely devastated and unable to go about their daily lives as they usually would.

“This is the fourth time the victim has had his bike stolen and we are appealing for anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the Liden area during the early hours of this morning to get in touch immediately, by calling police on 101.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously if preferred.