AFTER completing a gruelling cycle ride across England, a squad of riders were left staggered when two of their bikes were stolen minutes after they arrived home.

It was a sickening blow for the 12 cyclists who had just completed a cross-country trip from Workington in Cumbria to Newcastle.

The cyclists, all members of Rainhill Cricket Club aged from 15 to 52, took part in a three-day ride, raising thousands of pounds for children in Africa and junior cricketers in Rainhill.

The team had driven back to Rainhill and had unloaded their van, when the bikes, a black Dawes and a silver Carrera, were taken.

One of the riders, Steve Burrows, explained: "We got back into Rainhill on the Bank Holiday evening, parked up near the Victoria pub on Warrington Road and started to unpack. The bikes had only been left for five minutes before we realised they had been taken.

"Unfortunately none of us saw who took them, so there's no description.

"Two of the group went into Prescot and Whiston to track them down but they couldn't see anyone."