A CYCLE fanatic has had two valuable mountain bikes worth £5,000 stolen from his Purton home.

Stuart Selwood says the bikes were taken from his locked garage in Willowbrook, between 9pm on Sunday and 8am on Monday.

And he says the thieves knew what they were looking for when they raided his lock-up.

"I'm absolutely gutted," he said. "I can't believe they've been taken.

"I have suspicions that they knew what they were taking, as there were five other bikes in the garage.

"They even left my wife's scooter and took the two most expensive bikes.

"I went out in Purton looking for them on the off-chance they might have been dumped or someone might have got cocky and was riding one about.

"I even wore trainers rather then flip-flops just in case I had to give chase - but no luck."

One of the bikes was a Merlin Taiga. Its titanium frame is very rare and is not manufactured in this country.

Stuart had to have it shipped over from the USA as it was his favourite model.

The silver bike was custom-built and cost more than £3,000 when it was bought 11 years ago.

Stuart, a keen endurance cyclist, was planning to enter an event in Bristol later this year, but the theft of his bike has put his participation in jeopardy.

His anger at the loss of the bike has been compounded by the fact that it has a lot of sentimental value.

"When my dad died he left me some inheritance money and this was one of things I bought with it," said the 39-year-old father-of-one.

"That's another reason why it's so annoying.

"I love bikes and I have always been into them from quite a young age.

"The second bike they stole was a Trek and dark grey in colour.

"It was bought in May or June of this year and was worth £1,600."

This is not the first time Stuart has had a bike stolen.

He also had a mountain bike taken from his previous house in Swindon 12 years ago.

Stuart and his wife Sarah are currently mulling over whether to offer a reward for the safe return of the bikes.

However, they do plan to draw up some posters and display them around Purton.

If anyone has any information about the theft of Stuart's bikes they are asked to call Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.