A FORMER soldier who used cycling improve his fitness after being medically discharged from the Army has had his bicycle stolen.

Paddy Mwambila, 34, moved to the new housing development on Chase Park, Ellesmere Port, with his wife and two children in December after being forced to leave the British Army through injury.

Fitness fanatic Paddy, who is preparing to launch his own boot camp-style fitness and personal training business this month, was upset to find his £600 bike had been stolen from his garden.

The Hibike brand bicycle, with distinctive white rims, was stolen sometime between Sunday and Wednesday morning. It was next to his children’s bicycles which fortunately were not taken.

Paddy said: “I have recently just moved to Ellesmere Port after being medically discharged from the Army, and with my injury, cycling has been one of my recovery methods but some opportunist robbed my bike from my back garden.

“Any help to get it back will be greatly appreciated.”

Although Paddy has only recently moved to the Port, he said he was overwhelmed with the support he has received since appealing for help to find the bike on social media.

He said: “I even had one lady offering me to give me her bike as she didn’t ride it anymore. People have been great.

“It could have happened anywhere. I think with the weather getting better more people will using their bikes so we need to be careful.”

Anyone with information can contact Cheshire Police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 52184.