A rare £10,000 motocross bike and sidecar belonging to a top race rider has been stolen in Kidderminster.

The bike taken from a garage in Stourbridge Road is one of only around 70 vehicles of its kind in the country. Its owner, Neil Warrington has been motocross racing since 1975 and is a well-known figure on the national circuit.

The loss has left him devastated as he planned to compete in a championship next Sunday.

It was taken along with a kit bag containing three racing outfits, six pairs of goggles, seven crash helmets and racing bike boots worth nearly £2,000 in total.

The bike is an orange and black ATM and has race stickers with the number 18.

It was taken from the garage between 7am and 3.40pm on March 18.

Mr Warrington said the bike and sidecar combination is so finely balanced it would have taken two people to ride it.

It was more likely to have been loaded on to a trailer or into a van, he said.

Mr Warrington said: “I have only had the bike for five to six weeks and only ridden it once so the theft is a devastating blow.

“It took me a long time to get all my gear together..

“If whoever stole it tries to sell it they will get a shock as it’s a highly specialised market and everyone will know where it came from.

“Not many people do this type of racing any more, it’s a bit of a dying art. I really hope that anyone who knows where it is or can help the police find it will pick up the phone.”

Mr Warrington added: “If whoever stole it tries to sell it they will get a shock as it’s a highly specialised market and everyone will know where it came from.

Witnesses or anyone with information can call police on 0300 333 3000 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.