A teenager has been left "utterly devastated" after thieves stole his motocross bike.

Nicola Kalozois, of Halifax Close, Bricket Wood, said her 13-year-old son Finley has "had his heart broken".

The youngster’s £5,000 2014 Honda CRF big wheel bike was stolen from a locked garage in Old Watford Road, along with a £9,000 2012 Kawasaki KXF 250 bike belonging to Finley's father - Jason Thompson - and a £3,900 2007 Orange KTM bike belonging to a friend.

Ms Kalozois said: "These people haven’t just stolen a machine they have stolen a boys dream.

"Finley is absolutely and utterly devastated.

"It was like having to tell him a member of the family had died."

The 38-year-old added: "Motorcross is his life, he doesn’t like school and gets through each day knowing his motorcross is ready and waiting for him every weekend."

The theft is believed to have taken place between Sunday, August 9 and Tuesday, August 11, when the family who own the garage were away on holiday.

The bikes, which had a combined value of more than £19,000, were chained together and would have had to be dismantled before being stolen.

Finlay, who will be going into Year 9 at Marlborough Science Academy, had been competing regularly at all the latest Enduro races, where he recently climbed to second place.

He was hoping to reach first place at a race in September, which he won’t be able to do without his bike.

Ms Kalozois added: "I just don’t understand how these people can steal from children, its obvious it’s a childs bike. Not only that, his Father has great bonding time with my son every weekend.

"He is a great father to Finley and now that time for them has also been shattered.

"We would like to appeal to everyone to keep and eye out for these bikes, even the parts. They may try to say the parts rather than the whole bikes.

"More has to be done to try and make it harder for these thieves to get away with selling them on."

Police confirmed they were investigating the theft, and anyone with information should call the non-emergency number 101.