BURGLARS broke into a garage belonging to a racing driver and military veteran and stole two special bicycles.

Ash Hall, who lost both legs in an explosion while fighting in Afghanistan, was adapting the bicycles worth around £3,000 each for his use.

He wasn't at his home in Henry Everett Grove, Colchester, when the bikes were taken because he was racing at Oulton Park, in Cheshire.

Mr Hall, who races a specially adapted racing car for Team BRIT in the Fun Cup series, said he was angry when he heard the news.

He explained: "When I'm away my brother house sits for me so I was away on Thursday night and only got back on the Sunday night.

"He noticed on the Friday morning so he called my mum and dad who came over and they called me to let me know and the police.

It is thought the burglars got in by back-driving the electric motor which is used to open the garage door.

He said: "It's frustrating because I've spent the past year saving up to adapt the bikes and with the equipment they are probably worth about £6,000.

"I'm angry, they're not cheap.

"There was other disabled equipment like a wheelchair rugby chair but they didn't take that because it would be harder to sell on."

He was inspired to adapt the bikes after watching YouTube videos by Martyn Ashton - a mountain bike specialist who was paralysed in an accident in 2013.

Mr Hall said the burglary was a distraction for him as he tried to focus on the first round of the Fun Cup season.

He said: "It was a tricky weekend with the wet weather and then I had this playing on the back of my mind too.

"We had testing on the Friday and the four hour race on the Saturday so I had to focus on those."

A spokeman for Essex Police said: "We received reports of a residential burglary in Henry Everett Grove, Colchester on Friday, April 6.

"Two custom bikes, each worth a four-figure sum, were stolen from a garage between 3am the previous night and 8am that morning.

"Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and ask for Colchester police station, quoting the incident number 42/46558/18.

"Alternatively, you can contact the Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org."