A CYCLIST who has pedalled hundreds of miles to raise money for charity had his bike stolen from his front garden - only to catch somebody else riding it a few days later.

Gordon Davies, 61, of Gipsy Lane, Warminster, found his Ridgeback mountain bike had gone missing last Wednesday night, and was concerned the theft would interrupt his training regime.

He said: "I must have done about 10,000 miles on that bike since I got it in 2001, and a lot of them were for charity.

"After it had been taken I started looking around the estates and other areas near our house, just on the off chance of finding it, and I managed to on Sunday.

"I was up near the Yew Tree pub around Boreham Road when I saw a man riding what I recognised right away was my frame, so I collared him and got it back."

The black mountain bike, which cost more than £300, was taken from a rack on the back of Mr Davies' car between 10pm and midnight.

He noticed it was missing when he went to call his dog in from the garden, and found that whoever had stolen it had taken off the elastic clamps and broken a lock on the security cable.

"I kicked myself for not putting it in the garage out of sight," said Mr Davies. "I just wish people would think sometimes and realise it is wrong to take property that does not belong to them."

Over the past couple of years Mr Davies has taken part in a number of charity events, including the British Heart Foundation Hearts First Wiltshire bike ride in Seend, the Wessex 100-miler and even a 300-mile Bath-Dublin cycle trek to raise money for Dorothy House.

He is also planning to take part in a number of other bike rides next year.

Mr Davies has been a keen cyclist for most of his life and is often accompanied by his dog Henry, who rides in his own trailer attached to the back of the bike.

"I was very relieved when I found it because I really wanted my bike back," he said.

"I know people sometimes think if a bike is stolen they can just claim for it on their insurance, but I wanted my own bike because it's sort of my pride and joy, like a car is to some people.

"After this I would tell other cyclists to make sure they lock their bike away out of sight and take down the frame number and take some photos of it, which would definitely help if it is stolen."

Police are investigating the theft.