AN INSTRUCTOR who teaches learner riders has been targeted by thieves who stole motorbikes worth more than £20,000.

Ten models were burgled from a garage belonging to Williams Motorcycle Training in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, at 1.15am on Saturday, representing three quarters of the company's stock.

Three have been recovered, but with the remainder still missing owner Mike Williams has had to borrow a bike from a friend who runs a motorbike school in Warrington so a pupil can take their Compulsory Basic Training test on Wednesday.

Instructor Mr Williams said a neighbour spotted the burglary happening and rang police.

"They were just youngsters wearing tracksuits. There were three of them and then another two turned up.

"They cut through the gate to get in and cut through the padlock of the garage and the bike locks."

Mr Williams, who taught Bolton comedian and presenter Paddy McGuinness to ride for a television programme, spread the message of the missing bikes through social media and a tip-off led him to find three of the bikes.

One of the tactics of organised gangs who steal bikes is to leave the machines covered under a sheet outside a vacant rental house and come back later to collect them.

Mr Williams traced and took back a black 2005 Honda CBF600m, a red 2012 Yamaha YBR125 and a black and red 2013 Yamaha YBR125 from outside a property in Heaton.

He said: "Seven bikes are still outstanding. It's making us suffer big time.

"We have recovered £4,000's worth but £16,100's worth is outstanding. That’s a lot of money.

"I've got one lad who had to put his lesson back and we had to borrow a bike for him. It has really put us back.”

Mr Williams, who employs four other instructors, was critical of the response from police who, he claims, said they were too busy to arrive at the scene and possibly catch the thieves red handed.

"I'm still waiting for them to come and take a statement," he said.

He and a group of volunteers are now planning to ride around at night to see if they can spot either the motorbikes or thieves.

No one from Greater Manchester Police was available for comment.

The bikes unaccounted for are:

A silver Honda CBF600 — registration MF55 EGX

A silver Honda CBF600 — NA05 WVY

A silver Honda CBF600 — LB58 OFP

A silver Honda CBF600 — GY56 CZZ

A black Kawasaki ER5 — GX05 NFA

A silver Yamaha YBR125 — FJ57 RBV and

A blue and white SYM scooter — PO13 EXT

Mr Williams asks anyone with information to get in touch with him on 07977 075822.