A BEWDLEY mum has been left devastated after thieves stole her young son’s bike, which was one of the last birthday gifts he received from his late father.

Isabel Clarke was left so upset at the theft of the children’s motorbike that she could not bring herself to tell five-year-old James that his treasured present had been stolen.

The bike was bought for his fourth birthday by his dad Gary Peplow, who sadly died aged 50 following a motorbike accident in Spain last August.

James shares his dad's love of motorbikes and would often be found helping him polish them.

Thieves are believed to have broken into the barn in Ribbesford, where the bike was held, sometime between 5pm on Wednesday, June 29, and Thursday morning.

Isabel Clarke, the former partner of Mr Peplow and the mother of his son, James, said: "Gary bought the bike for him for his fourth birthday and James rides it in the field a lot.

"He used to ride around with him on it. It’s quite a sentimental thing for us.

"After what we have been through it is only stuff and it is replaceable, but because Gary bought it and he is not here anymore I feel very sad about that and sad for James too.

"I haven’t been able to bring myself to tell him his bike has been stolen.

"I’m just angry and fed up."

Keys to the bike – a red and white Honda CRF50 – were not stolen during the burglary.

The £1,300 bike, as well as tools worth around £3000 – including a valuable Dewalt DCK691M3 drill – are believed to have been accessed using a ladder to enter a window.

West Mercia Police are currently investigating the incident and urging witnesses or anybody with information to call on 101 quoting incident number 0123s of June 30.