A cancer sufferer says his recovery will be damaged after thieves stole his specially designed bike.

David Thornhill, 37, said the bike – which he took a year to design and build – had helped rebuild muscles removed along with 20 tumours from his left leg.

It was stolen from the staff car park at Oxford & Cherwell Valley College’s Banbury campus on Monday afternoon.

The North Oxford resident, diagnosed with aggressive fibromatosis seven years ago, said: “I am very upset, very angry and feel bereft.

“If I can’t cycle for two days then muscle degeneration starts to occur. If I can’t keep up that cycling exercise then it degenerates very quickly.

“If I can’t keep mobility, I could lose my leg.”

Mr Thornhill – the course leader for graphic design – has distributed 1,000 flyers around the college and town in a bid to return his prized possession.

A colleague at the Broughton Road college saw two people force the bike off a rack it was locked to on the back of his car, he said.

Mr Thornhill said the cycle frame was manufactured from lightweight carbon and was configured to suit his 6ft 4in height. He was unable to put a value on the bike, but said to him it was priceless.

The theft means he will not be able to take part in a planned student charity cycle ride from Whitehaven in the Lake District to Sunderland at Easter.

Anyone with information about the bike should contact Pc Samantha Devlin on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.