AN angry dad claims thieves are using car boot sales to trade in stolen bikes.

Ian Bleakley is advising parents to scour sales if their children have become victims of the cruel thieves.

His 13-year-old son, Ian - who had saved cash from his paper round to buy his dream Raleigh bike - spotted it on sale during a shopping trip.

Mr Bleakley, of Marld Crescent, Johnson Fold, said: " I want to warn other parents that stolen property can end up in these car boot stalls.

"We couldn't believe it. We were shopping to buy Ian another bike for his birthday. When we saw the bike I got the whole family to stand guard at the stall while I called the police.

" Luckily, the man who originally sold me the bike from a nearby shop vouched for me to the police.

"The police investigated and confiscated the bike. They soon agreed that it was ours and we got it back.

"My son is really pleased and we've got the bike back in better condition than when it was stolen from outside our house."

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