HEARTLESS thieves left an eleven-year-old boy devastated after they stole his bicycle from outside a supermarket on Sunday (June 18).

And now his mother is offering a cash reward to anyone who can return his prized possession to him.

Daniel Johnstone had popped into Iceland Supermarket off Vicarage Lane, South Shore, on Sunday at around 11.15am and left his mountain bike outside, asking a member of staff to keep an eye on it as there was no place for him to lock it to.

On return he found his bike, a Raleigh Max, had gone and his safety helmet, which had been clipped onto the saddle had been taken off and left behind.

His mother Diane said Daniel had been inconsolable since the theft. "I'm upset because he did ask a member of staff to look after it and he was only inside for a very short period of time. I am offering a reward for the safe return of the bike."

The Raleigh Max limited edition 15-gear mountain bike was coloured electric-blue and had the name emblazoned along it in fluorescent orange.

If you have bought this bike recently or know someone who has, please contact your local police station.

A statement from Iceland said: "We were very saddened to hear about this young boy. While incidents such as these are extremely regrettable we should point out that bicycles are parked entirely at the customer's own risk." The store suggest people chain bikes to nearby railings.