CRUEL thieves snatched a BEN paper boy's bicycle as he nipped into the shop to pick up his loaded bag.

Now the newsagent has started a collection in the shop to help raise money for a replacement bike.

Adam Boardman, aged 14, of Clifton, had his bike snatched outside Kearsley News on Manchester Road.

Ironically, it was a year to the day that Adam had a previous bike stolen from the same spot.

Newsagent Mr Vijay Joshi said the theft of both bikes happened on Adam's mother's birthday.

Mr Joshi said the latest theft happened outside his shop last Wednesday morning.

He said: "It was about 6.20 am. As soon as he realised the bike had been stolen I shut up the shop and took Adam round the area in my car to see if we could track the thieves down.

"We found nothing though. Adam does a morning and evening delivery and is a good worker.

"I thought it would be nice for us to start a collection in the shop. It would be nice for something positive to come out of something so nasty."

Mr Joshi added: "I would also like to make people more aware of the thieves that are around."

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