BIKE racer Phil Smithson's hopes in the World Enduro Championships have been dented after the theft of vital tools and equipment in Italy.

More than £2,500 worth of specialist gear was taken from the Clitheroe engineer's hired service van while he was competing in Genoa.

Now he faces the next round in the championship race in Slovakia later this month without the essential equipment needed to compete.

Phil, who is 29 and works for Michelin in Burnley, has been accumulating the hand-made tools throughout the six years he has been contesting the championship.

Back home this week, he said: "The thieves cleaned out everything I had in the van - tools, bike spares and all my clothing.

"But the loss of the tools is the biggest blow, as it will be very hard to compete without them.

"But it won't put me off; I'll try and get by somehow."

The theft was the final straw in a series of mechanical misfortunes which dogged Phil during his Italian trip.

He had been forced to use a hire van after his own broke down near the Swiss border.

Said Phil: "The only bright spot was finishing in the top 20, which maintained my 14th place in the championship."

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