Nine-year-old Emma Livett was devastated when her new bike was stolen the first time she rode it into Oxford.

Emma waited six weeks for the delivery of her red bike, a birthday present from her grandmother.

On her first cycle outing into the city centre with her mum, Julia Livett, it was stolen.

Emma LivettThe bike was securely locked with a D-lock in Penny Farthing Place, but disappeared just an hour after Emma left it.

Mrs Livett said: "People have said to us that you need two bikes in Oxford - an old one to ride into the city and a new to keep at home.

"What is the point of buying your child a nice bike if they cannot use it?

"Emma starts secondary school next term and the idea was to get her a new bike so that she could get used to it and cycle to school."

Mrs Livett, of Vicarage Road, south Oxford, said she had walked into the city centre because she has twins and struggles to get her double buggy on the bus. Emma had ridden the bike alongside her on the day it was stolen.

The incident comes just days after the police issued a warning about mountain bikes being targeted by thieves.

Dave Briggs, based at St Aldate's police station cycle office, said: "We would urge anyone leaving their bike in the city centre to take special precautions.

"Securely locked bikes are being taken in broad daylight from busy streets. Thieves appear to be breaking and cutting off locks.

"Our advice would be to lock your bike to a solid object like a rack and put the lock round the bike frame rather than through a wheel, which can be easily removed."

Have you had a bike stolen in Oxford? What more can be done to halt bike theft? Tell us now in the Talking Shop.