THIEVES have stolen a bicycle being used by a charity worker to train for a sponsored ride.

Tara Wilson, 21, is appealing for help after her £300 mountain bike was stolen from Oxford railway station on Saturday.

The Macmillan Cancer Support worker had been using the bike to train for the 62-mile Isle of Wight Randonnee, a cycle ride run by the island branch of the Wayfarers Cycletouring Club, which starts on Sunday.

She said: “I have been in training for a long time and been using it for 30-mile rides and others of varying lengths every evening.

“This means I can’t do any more training which is really disappointing. I should have been out on my bike every night this week. But it won’t stop me because I’m doing this for Macmillan.”

Miss Wilson, of East Avenue, in East Oxford, first completed the Isle of Wight Randonnee cycle ride seven years ago.

But this is the first time she is taking part in the ride, which has some off-road sections, lanes and minor roads, on a tandem with her housemate Jenna Lovell, 22.

They are expecting to take up to nine hours to complete the circuit of the Isle of Wight.

So far, they have raised £200 which will go towards Macmillan Cancer Support, which helps people living with cancer and their family and carers. To sponsor the duo log on to www.justgiving.com/iowrandonnee.