A MUM of an 11-year-old schoolboy whose bike was stolen by a brazen thief has called on the community to help track down the culprit.

Joanne Taylor, from Padgate, was shocked to discover that a man had confronted her son while he was in a park off Lysander Drive with his friends.

She was informed of the theft by her son's friends who had rushed round to her house shortly after it happened.

It is believed the man had previously stolen a bike from a property on Fairbrother Crescent.

"He was devastated," said Joanne, who had bought the blue and red GT bike for her son as a Christmas present in 2017 for £400.

"We went out in the car to follow the direction where we thought he might have gone.

"My son had a bike test at school but he couldn't do it – it's unfair that someone could stoop so low."

Police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing into the incident on June 13 at 5.25pm at the park in Fearnhead but no arrests have been made at this stage.

A police spokesman said: "Officers were called to reports of a theft at Poulton-in–Fearnhead.

"The caller reported that an unknown man had stolen a bike from an 11-year-old child on Lysander drive.

"The suspect is described as man, approximately 5ft 8ins, of medium build, 25 to 35-years-old with dark hair, shaven at the side with a dark afro on top.

"Enquiries in relation to the incident are ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact Cheshire Police."

Joanne added: "My son and his friends are mortified. They don't want to go out anymore.

"If he had left it outside a shop unlocked then maybe I would understand but he was in the park with his friends."

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting crime reference number 92656 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.