Tommy Bray, 14, a pupil at Seaford Head Community College, was delivering in Sutton Road, Seaford, when he turned around to see a tall, skinny man in a fluorescent jacket making off with his yellow Mongoose mountain bike.

His mum, Sally Cherriman, had to help him finish his round.

She told the Express: 'I am absolutely incensed, he could see who he was and how old he was and what he was doing. He came and took his bike and cycled off towards the beach. I have reported it to the police. I am so angry about it.'

Tommy has been doing his paper round for a couple of months and his mum says any money he has earned had been spent on modifications for his bike.

Sally is willing to pay a small reward for the return of the bike.

Anyone with any information about the theft, on Tuesday last week, can call on 0845 6070999.