A TEENAGER who had bicycles built with his late father stolen is still on the move with a new bike from mechanic John Paine and public donations.

Cameron Antal, 14, had his bikes and memories cruelly taken from him in a raid on his family’s York Road garage earlier this month.

Dad Chris died at the age of 28 after a three-year fight with throat cancer and the burglary occurred just days after the seventh anniversary of his death.

However, after reading the Adver’s story and Cameron’s mum’s appeal for help, Penhill bicycle mechanic John Paine and the general public have kept the boy on two wheels.

The Pride of Swindon award-winner knows Cameron’s grandfather and approached the teenager with one of the restored BMXs he looks after at his Hilmarton Avenue home.

A fundraising site set up by Louise Morecombe, Cameron’s mother, also pulled in £335, which he has already dipped into to start putting the skills his father taught him to the test.

“I was angry I got my bikes stolen, but then all these generous people have donated so much money and I’ve been able to get back on track,” said the Churchfields Academy pupil.

“I have found it overwhelming. It’s insane.

“I’m sure my dad would be proud of what I have done.

"It’s getting easier.”

John, 52, said: “It just makes you pig-sick. It infuriates you. A lot of the bikes I sell are cheap, but people don’t care, although they should.

“It’s replaceable for them, but something like Cameron’s is irreplaceable because of what his dad taught him. It’s special to him.

“He was chuffed to bits and over the moon because it’s restoring faith in humanity. He didn’t realise how many would step in.

“He didn’t know his mum was doing the fundraising.”

This is not the end of the efforts to put right the wrongs of those who deprived Cameron of his memories.

John has also been liaising with Mountain Biking Swindon’s (MB) Jon Dixon, who knew Chris Antal, and @The Hub cycling workshop in Fleet Street.

MB has donated a mountain bike frame, Mitchell Cycles new brakes, and John will use @The Hub’s workshop next Saturday (JUN 6) to help build Cameron a new bike.

Cameron will also attend and hope to draw on the resources available at the shop to build the new mountain bike.

Steve John, director of @The Hub, said: “It’s just the community spirit of the cycling side of it. We are a cycling shop and the kid’s got his bikes nicked.

“It’s all over the news and John approached us. Of course we wanted to help.”

Parts are still needed for the 10am build. If anyone is interested in donating, please contact @The Hub in Fleet Street on 01793 976116.