THREE brand new bikes - bought to cheer up three boys still missing their dead brother - were stolen from a garage before the children had even turned the pedals. Heartbroken Amanda Moores bought the identical Manchester United BMX bikes because they were still missing their brother Ryan, who died of meningitis in 1994 when he was just 17 months old. Mrs Moores said the children were struggling so much to come to terms with Ryan's death they had been to see a child psychiatrist.

They hadn't even ridden their new bikes because, when they were delivered from the catalogue firm, parts were missing.

Mrs Moores chose the distinctive bikes for Lee 11; Aaron, nine; and Shaun, aged seven, because they are mad keen Manchester United fans. Five-year-old Rebecca, Ryan's twin sister, was bought a Barbie bike, but the thieves left that behind.

And in a cruel twist of fate, the missing brake blocks that had stopped the boys riding the bikes arrived the morning the family discovered they were missing from the garage at their home on Peel Park Crescent, Little Hulton.

Mum Amanda told the BEN: "The boys are heartbroken. They were bought to cheer them up because they were all so down in the dumps, and having them stolen has made it even worse - especially when they hadn't even been ridden. One of my boys won't even go into the kitchen now because it joins on to the garage and he thinks the robbers will come and get him."

The bikes were not covered by insurance which means Amanda and her husband Peter will still have to carry on paying for them.

"We couldn't really afford them", said Amanda. "But we wanted to treat them. They are still so affected by Ryan's death. One of my little boys said he wanted to be with Ryan in Heaven."

Amanda is a housewife and Peter is currently unemployed and on sickness benefit, so they can't afford the replace them.

She said: "I've got a gut feeling that whoever took them knows us because there were expensive tools and my car in the garage and they left them behind."

Amanda told MUFC staff about the theft and the club is sending the children something to cheer them up. Ken Ramsden from MUFC said: "We were sorry to hear about the loss of their bikes so we've sent the kids a goody bag each. We're happy to help, albeit in a very small way."

Amanda said: "I just hope whoever has done this realises the upset they have caused and if anyone knows anything I hope they will contact me. People steal flowers off my dead son's grave all the time - and now they're stealing off my living children too."

Anyone who has any information on the bikes can contact Amanda on 0161 288 1790.

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