ENTERTAINER Trumble is really down in the dumps . . . because his beloved unicycle has been stolen.

The popular performer, who has been making children laugh for the last 20 years, found that the bike had been taken after a show last month in Horwich.

Since his one-wheeled transport was stolen the Leigh clown's act has had to be a little more pedestrian than usual--and he is appealing for its return.

He was hosting a children's circus skills workshop on August 15 when the chrome unicycle, worth several hundred pounds, was stolen from the fairground in Station Park.

The affable Trumble, alias Arnie Cheetham, went to load some of his kit after the show but when he returned to collect his unicycle it had gone.

He said: "The bike is regularly used for entertaining and teaching circus skills to children, some with special needs.

"It will be quite difficult and expensive for me to replace it if it comes to that. It's being sorely missed by the kids because it's one of the main parts of my act when we do the workshops so I'm very keen to get it back.

"It's not something that would be much use to most people. I hope the people of Horwich will be able to help me find out where it is. I'm still hopeful that I'll be reunited with it.

"There were still a lot of people around when it was taken so somebody must have seen something."

Fifty year-old Trumble is offering a cash reward for the return of the bike.

Anyone with information is asked to call Trumble on 07970 073821 or Greater Manchester Police on 0161 856 5757.