An elderly man was left in tears after his prized bicycle for stolen from a gym in Bromley. 

Tony Eder, 73, of Glanville Road, Bromley, was given the bike, valued at £2,500, by his wife as a present when he retired. 

Mr Eder has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which makes it hard for him to breathe. He finds walking difficult but rides a bike to get around. 

He believes the bike was stolen from the Virgin Active gym on Baths Road, Bickley, at around 2.15pm on Tuesday (October 3).

Mr Eder's wife Sandra, 70, said the bike had great sentimental value as her husband had ridden it along the Rhine in Germany and the Loire Valley in France. 

Mrs Eder said: "He was in tears at the gym. The staff kindly arranged for a taxi to take him home as the walk would have been too much. 

"He's so upset. Its almost like a bereavement. He really loved it, I think its me and then the bike. 

"The people who took it don't realise the emotional upset it brings. You can replace a bike but you cant replace the emotions attached to it. I know its only a piece of metal but it means more than that for Tony."

The couple say they have reported the theft to the police and Mrs Eder is offering a reward to anybody who returns it.

She said: "He would be absolutely delighted if it was returned. He'd be out on it straight away."

Mr Eder is currently using an old mountain bike to get around. Anybody who has any information on the bike should email: ant_eder2003@yahoo.co.uk.