A SWINDON cyclist who has raised hundreds of pounds for charity has had his bike stolen from the town centre.

When Ian Lambdon and his wife Wendy locked up their bikes in the cycle rack outside The Bedroom pub on Wednesday morning they thought they would be safe.

But they returned to discover thieves had made off with both the bikes and locks.

Ian, of Haydon Wick, won his bike after raising the most money competing in the Le Mans 24-hour race last year.

"We came back and they were gone," said the 39-year-old, who works for a computer company in Westmead.

"I just couldn't believe it really. We walked around the rack and they weren't there.

"There were loads of other bikes, just not ours.

"They'd nicked the padlocks as well, which were good ones."

Ian was awarded the bike after raising more than £1,300 for the event last year, which saw him cycle 170 miles from Leatherhead in Surrey to the world famous racetrack at Le Mans, in France.

The money he raised went to charity SeeAbility, which helps people who are blind or partially sighted.

And it isn't just Ian's bike that is of special significance. Radiographer Wendy, 34, bought her bike using her first month's wages.

"She couldn't believe it either," said Ian.

After making the discovery, the couple went straight to the Centre Point police station to report the thefts.

But they hold little hope that they will ever see the bikes again.

"I think it is going to be an insurance job, but it's not the same," he said.

Ian is planning to take part in the charity event again this September, and said the theft of his bike will not hold him back.

"I'm not going to let it hinder me," he said. "I'm sure we'll work something out."

The bikes are a black and silver Trek mountain bike and a pink and purple Solar Flame mountain bike.

Anyone with information on the stolen bikes should contact Swindon police on 0845 408 7000.