A DEVON Air Ambulance paramedic was unable to complete the last section of a 100 mile sponsored cycle ride at the weekend because his mountain bike was stolen from an outbuilding at Okehampton Youth Hostel.
Manager of the youth hostel John Elson said he was very annoyed by the incident which had devastated the cyclist and reflected badly on the hostel and Okehampton.
Flight paramedic Alan Bisseker had been cycling from Ilfracombe to Plymouth with four others to raise money for the air ambulance.
His £1,500 bike was padlocked and kept inside a locked building whilst the cyclists stayed overnight at the hostel.
The theft is believed to have occurred around 9.30pm on Saturday.
Mr Bisseker said the rest of the team went on to finish the ride but he was 'gutted' that after completing 62 miles he had been unable to carry on to the end.