A SCHOOLGIRL has been left heartbroken after thieves stole the bike she bought with money she was given for Christmas.

Emily Usher and her father, Paul, of Taw Hill, had locked their bikes in Wharf Green when both of their bikes were stolen.

Emily, 11, a pupil at Bradon Forest School, had bought her £180 silver and black bike with money she had been given for Christmas and Paul said he was more worried about losing her bike than his own £2,200 bike.

Paul, 36, who is a health and safety officer, said: “We went out for a bike ride and decided we would go to town and pick a few things up. We pushed the bikes through town and locked them up outside McDonalds. It is busy and there is a camera and a sign which warns you’re on CCTV.

“We locked our bikes on the metal protective cover around the trees. When we came back they had cut through the lock.

“I spoke to a friend and he is 99 per cent positive he saw them pass by Fleming Way.”

Paul’s bike is a Cube XMS and is brushed aluminium and black in colour. It has road tyres rather than mountain bike tyres.

Emily’s bike is a silver and black Dunlop bike.

“My bike was very high spec, but more importantly my poor daughter’s bike was taken as well,” he said.

“She was devastated.”

The bikes were locked up at about 12.30pm on March 10 and it is thought they were taken by two men between 1.50-2.10pm.

“In total it’s nearly £2,500 worth. I am not happy. Why should I go to work to fund things like this? They have no right to take our bikes,” said Paul.

Emily said: “We were just walking down to where we had put our bikes and we saw that our bikes had gone. I didn’t really know what to do.

“I think they should have bought their own bikes. I had been waiting about seven months for a new bike when I bought that one in January. I think they should give it back but I don’t know if they will.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said witnesses saw the men make off in the direction of Fleet Street.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Larcombe at Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.