Pensioner reunited with motorbike

But it wasn't all smiles for 83-year-old Raymond Smith. Despite his motorbike being abandoned just around the corner from his home in Eriswell Road, it was then taken to a pound in Fontwell by police and Mr Smith had to pay 105 to get it back.

Speaking to the Worthing Herald on Monday, Mr Smith said: "The first I knew about the bike being found was when I received a letter from the pound. I was very angry '“ the bike was only found around the corner and we could have gone and got it ourselves.

"I have written to the chief constable telling him what has happened and asking for my money back."

As reported in the Worthing Herald two weeks ago, Mr Smith's Sky Team Easy Rider bike, one of only three in Sussex, was stolen from outside his home on August 26.

It had been left unattended for only two minutes, so Mr Smith thinks the thieves must have been watching.

The bike was found on September 9 at the junction of Compton Avenue and Clifton Road and was taken to the pound. Mr Smith believes the thieves abandoned the bike after realising an appeal had been put in the Worthing Herald.

Because the bike is so rare, the thieves never managed to start it but damaged the igintion switch and stole the number plate and tax disc.

Mr Smith's wife, Celia, said: "Thanks to the article in the Worthing Herald, whoever stole it must have realised what a rare beast they had got hold of and there was nothing they could do with it. It's just lucky it wasn't stolen by vandals."

A spokesperson for Worthing police said: "It is the police policy that should a stolen vehicle be found abandoned, it will be recovered in order that it can be forensically examined and so give police the best opportunity to trace the offender.

"We use a contractor for the recovery, for which there is a charge, and victims usually claim this on their insurance.

"We are pleased Mr Smith has been reunited with his stolen motorcycle. Mr Smith, like with other victims, should have been informed by police that his motorcycle had been recovered and we're sorry if this didn't happen."