121-year-old motorcycle stolen from barn

A 121-year-old motorcycle has been stolen from the great-grandson of the man who designed it.

Bill Fellows says his 1904 Riley bike was pinched from inside a barn on Lord's Lane in Ousden, Suffolk, between 18:30 GMT on Monday and 07:00 GMT on Tuesday.

The rare two-wheeler, one of just two left in the world, according to the 72-year-old, was made by Percy Riley, of the Riley Motor company, which was founded in 1896.

Suffolk Police said it was investigating the theft of the bike, which was taken alongside a selection of tools, by an "unknown intruder" who cut through a padlocked gate.

Mr Fellows said the motorcycle, which he described as a "historic bit of machinery", was on a clamped car transporter trailer in a "locked barn, in a locked yard".

He said "nobody really knew it was there", and he thought it was taken by an opportunist who got lucky rather than someone deliberating targeting the bike.

"I felt complete horror and amazement, to look inside and see it was gone… I was just aghast, and I couldn't comprehend it, and I still can't," he said.

Mr Fellows and his family bought the bike about seven years ago before spending "quite a bit of money" on restoring it back to its former glory.

Due to its uniqueness, he believed the thief would find it difficult to sell the "very, very complicated piece of equipment" without raising a few eyebrows.

"I don't think many people would want it because they would know it was stolen, so we hope we get a hint as to where it is now, but maybe they will dump it," he added.

"It's a huge part of our family background and I very much hoped to have it to pass it on to future generations," he said.

"Although the bike hasn't been with us forever, the stories of the motorbikes have been, and I still hope I can pass it on to my grandchildren.

"So, please get in touch and give it back."

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.