A WOMAN has had "her freedom" taken away from her after her bicycle was stolen.

Sarah Martin chained her Carrera bike up outside a B&Q shop on Kirkhall Lane in Leigh.

She was looking for items to improve her garden for a small gathering for her daughter's eighth birthday.

But as she was inside, a staff member asked her if she had left a bike outside as a man had just stole it.

The theft happened at around 12.30pm on Tuesday, May 11.

Sarah, 41, said: "It was awful, my heart just sank and I felt sick.

"I bought it in Halfords in 2016 and I went out on it pretty much every day.

"It gave me freedom.

"Without it I am stuck. I have insurance but they don't have that model anymore."

An eyewitness said the thief was white, 6ft tall, wore a snood covering his face and was dressed all in black.

On reflection, Sarah, from Westhoughton, said she saw someone matching that description on a bike in the car park before she went into the shop.

She added: "It is absolutely disgusting that someone can just think they can steal people's property."

Police said no arrests have been made.

If you have any information contact police on 101 quoting reference number CRI-0611-0012459-21.