A heart attack sufferer who was organising a charity bike ride to thank those who saved his life has been left crushed after his bicycle was stolen.

Granddad John Freeman, 59, of Sauls Bridge Close, Witham, suffered a heart attack while his was out on his bike two weeks ago and had an emergency operation at Basildon University Hospital to unblock an artery.

The fitness fanatic, who rides his £2,000 Cannondale SuperSix almost every day, decided to give something back as a thank you by organising a sponsored bike ride for the British Heart Foundation.

However, heartless crooks stole his pride and joy while he was sitting and drinking coffee just metres away from the bike, which wasn’t chained up, at Rayne’s railway station on Monday afternoon.

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.