Firm forced to cut back after £20k bikes theft

The owner of a family-run cycling firm says he feels "massively demotivated" after bikes worth about £20,000 were stolen from them.

Kev Williams owns Shrewsbury-based Shyre Bikes which sells bikes for children, with the aim of helping them to stop using screens and get outside on wheels.

On Friday, thieves made off with about 50 boxed bikes from a storage yard they were being kept in, in Edgebold in the town.

Williams said he was now having to reduce spending with local firms because of the loss.

"We're relying on that money to pay for more bikes to come in," said Williams.

"Right now we've committed to another order and we're going to have to find some money to fill that hole.

"Those bikes can be split up, distributed around the country or even out of the country so I've got little hope of seeing them come back."

The burglary was being investigated and any witnesses should come forward, a West Mercia Police spokesperson said.

"It massively demotivates you…the country needs entrepreneurs to create businesses to generate employment... it's hard enough to do that with what's going on at the moment," Williams said.

"It just makes you think: 'What's the point?'"

He added that he believed the stolen bikes would be resold but they were easy to spot because they were branded with the business' name.

"We're not here to make money, we're here to get more kids riding, peel them away from screens," he added.

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