A CYCLIST is devastated after a thief stole the bike he was planning to use for a Coast to Coast charity cycle ride.

Daniel Ridley locked up his Canondale SL3 bike outside Bannatyne’s Health Club, in Haughton Road, Darlington, on Saturday at about 6pm using a specialist £50 lock.

When he returned at 7.45pm, he found thieves had hacked through the lock and taken his £1,000 bike.

Mr Ridley, who works as an electrician in Darlington, had been training for a charity bike ride from Workington, in Cumbria, to North Shields, and was planning to ride the route this weekend to raise money for Cancer Research and St Teresa’s Hospice.

He said: “When I came out of the gym I was confused, I was sure I’d cycled down but couldn’t see my bike anywhere. I couldn’t believe it when I realised what had happened, they’d even taken the lock.

“I’d worked hard to get that bike and was looking forward to doing the Coast to Coast.”

The 22-year-old is fundraising for Cancer Research as his grandfather suffers from the disease.

He said: “I have been affected by what’s happened to him and wanted to do something to help. I also ran the Great North Run for him last month.”

This is the second time Mr Ridley has been targeted by thieves after burglars broke into his garage three months ago and took his previous bike.

His mother, Andrea Ridley, is appealing for anyone who knows what happened to the bike to come forward.

She said: “Daniel was so positive and wanted to do the bike ride for his Grandad.

“I just can’t understand what their motive is. I’m gutted, it isn’t insured so it’ll be hard to afford a new one.”

Mr Ridley is hoping to reschedule his Coast to Coast bike ride in the next few weeks.

He said: “It will be put on the back burner for now, if I get my bike back I’ll do it on that, but if not I’ll look into renting a bike.”

Anyone with any information on the bike is asked to call Durham Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.