TWO little girls from Portland were left heartbroken after callous thieves stole their bikes.

Ellie Breeds, nine, had her bike stolen while it was locked up overnight outside her home in William Court, Woolcombe Road.

Her friend Chelsye King also had her bike stolen from a shed in the back garden of her Croft Road home on the same night.

Ellie’s bike had been locked up when it was stolen at around 4am last Wednesday.

She said: “I don’t think it was very fair and I was quite upset.

“It was a Christmas gift and I was supposed to have been doing my cycling proficiency test on it soon.”

Ellie’s mum Lyssa Breeds added: “I’m gutted and angry for her.

“She had been getting ready to do her cycling proficiency test so she could ride it to and from school safely on the roads.

“I dare say it’s in a ditch now – it’s the disrespect of it that I find most upsetting.”

Chelsye, also nine, had her bike stolen at around the same time as her friend.

She said: “When I was told my bike had been stolen I was really sad and upset, because I haven’t had it very long.

“I did go out on it quite a lot but now I can’t, unless I can borrow one.”

Her mother Michelle Greatrex added: “Who on earth would steal a child’s bike?

“Whoever it was could have stolen anything else to get their money for whatever they needed it for.”

Also stolen from Michelle’s shed during the break-in was a man’s bike belonging to her partner David Adkins.

Police are still investigating whether the thefts, and a series of others that have occurred on the island in recent weeks, are linked.

Sergeant Yvonne Bevan of Portland Police’s safer neighbourhood team appealed to the people who stole the bikes not to dump them.

She said: “I would urge whoever stole these little girls’ bikes not to just dump them somewhere once they’re done with them.

“It would be better if they could leave them somewhere where they can be found and perhaps returned to the girls.”

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 01305 222222.