TWO children's 'scrambler' motorbikes were snatched by thieves who hurled a metal grid through the window of a car dealers' showroom.

Shortly before 1am on Monday raiders grabbed the two Italian-made Malagutti Grizzly Junior off-road bikes worth £700 each from Victoria Garage in Chapel Street, Leigh.

But their clumsy break-in caused a further £1,400 damage -- £600 to a plate glass window and £800 when the grid which had been thrown through it landed on a new Vauxhall Corsa on display.

Police are appealing for information on the theft of the machines, a yellow and blue one aimed at four to seven-year-olds and a red and yellow one aimed at the next under 12s age group. Contact PC Steve Hanley at Leigh Police on 0161 856 7259.