A FOOTBALL-MAD boy was left devastated after thieves stole his bike, which had been adapted by his favourite football club.

Bryan Walker, nine, of Billingham, made a trip to the Sunderland AFC club shop to buy the £180 bike.

But thieves took the cycle from behind his house, in Malvern Road, overnight on Saturday.

His mother, Donna Dunn, said: "He cried a lot on the first day and we had everyone but everyone out looking for it.

"He's Sunderland-daft and is a season ticket holder even though his dad's a Middlesbrough fan.

"It's really distinctive being a Sunderland bike. There's only his cousin I know of having one in the whole of Teesside. It means so much to Bryan. I was out looking for it and told him if I saw it I'd get it back, no matter who had it but we just couldn't see it."

The black mountain bike is covered with Sunderland stickers and was taken from beside a shed behind the family's house.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on (01642) 326326