The youngest son of a family hit by tragedy today made a desperate plea to thieves to return his bike.

Schoolboy Ricky Bishop, of Crown Avenue, Pitsea, had parked the yellow and green bike outside Canvey Library.

But while he was in lessons at Furtherwick Park School, thieves broke the lock on the Barracuda bike and made off with it.

Ricky's elder brother, Kelvin Foster, was just 16 when he died in a car crash caused by his uncle, a drink-driver, two years ago - just before Ricky bought his dream bike. His uncle was later jailed for causing Kelvin's death.

To add to the tragedy Ricky's mum, Sandra, was also forced to have a hysterectomy after discovering she had cancer of the womb.

Ricky, 11, had saved up his Christmas and birthday money for two years to buy the bike.

Sandra said: "Ricky is just devastated. He saved up his Christmas money and birthday money from everyone for two years to buy that bike.

"It just seems so unfair. Things have been really hard for him. He lost his brother and he and Kelvin were very close.

"I just want the people who did this to bring the bike back. They could only get about £50 for it, which is nothing, but it means so much more than money to Ricky. He loved that bike."

Sandra added: "I have been very ill and Ricky has done everything for me, such as doing the washing and making the beds.

"He is such a good boy. He never goes out with his friends because I just cannot afford to give him the money to do those things. I am still trying to pay off the money for Kelvin's tombstone.

"I have no insurance on the house and I can't buy Ricky a new bike.

"You tell kids if they are good they will get what they want, but Ricky just keeps on having to go without."

The family, which also includes Ricky's other brother, Tony, 17, were also forced to move from their home in Ambleside Walk, Canvey. Sandra said: "We just had to move. We couldn't afford to live on the island any more."

Plea - Ricky wants his bike back

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.