A TEENAGER is warning other children to beware of cruel bike thieves after they struck in seconds at a newsagents off Chorley Old Road.

Carl Rothwell had his prized mountain bike stolen as he dashed inside the shop to collect his bag of newspapers.

Carl of New Church Road, Smithills, claims he was only inside a matter of seconds but when he came out his bike had gone.

The bike even had a blue chain rapped around it but it had not been locked. The newspaper boy, who now faces cancelling his round because of a lack of transport, now wants other people to realise how fast the thieves can strike following his own experience on Thursday at 4pm.

Anyone who spots Carl's bike should ring his parents on Bolton 493086.

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