A cycle shop owner has condemned thieves who stole his own personal bike, worth £1,000.

Chris Lobb, who runs Lobb’s Cycles in Halstead’s High Street with his dad Steve, often used the black and silver road bike for fitness and cycle events.

The 32-year-old hoped to trade it in for a more expensive, updated model but now has to start saving from scratch after thieves stole it from outside the shop at midday on Sunday.

Mr Lobb, who has owned the bike for about 14 months, left the bike unlocked after he had brought a different one inside for a customer.

He said: “I had unchained the bikes out the front to get a bike in for a customer but when I went to lock it up again a few minutes later, it had gone walk-about."

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.