OPPORTUNISTIC thieves struck overnight to steal a schoolboy's bike that his mum had saved for 12 months to buy him for Christmas.

The Whyte 701 bicycle, which cost £600, was stolen from the front garden of Evelyn Hegarty's home on Grosvenor Close in Hood Manor between 10pm on Monday and 5am on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old said: "My boy came running into my room to tell me his bike wasn't there.

"Straightaway I asked him he if had brought it in last night.

"He looked at me and said that he thought that he had but he must have forgotten.

"He was really upset as he didn't mean to do it."

Mum-of-two Evelyn has used a Christmas savings scheme so she could surprise her son with the bike that he had always wanted.

She said: "This is his pride and joy and he uses it to get to and from school.

"He is truly heartbroken and this is not something I can go out and replace.

"I just want to find the bike so he can have a smile back on his face. He’s just been really upset and heartbroken about this."

Evelyn has issued an appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting crime reference number IML213815 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.