We’ll buy you a new one!

Village rallies round after great-grandmother’s bike is stolen ‘I loved my bike because I don’t drive much now and used it to ride to the shops and library and see my daughter nearby’

Villagers have rallied to help a great-grandmother whose beloved bike was stolen while she was out visiting family.

Janine Gough, 79, was devastated when it was swiped after she briefly left it unattended outside her daughter’s house in Aylesham.

But now an appeal has been launched to help the pensioner buy a new one.

The mum-of-four, who lives in Cornwallis Avenue, said: “I was so angry and upset when it was taken that I just couldn’t sleep that night because it was such a shock.

“I loved my bike because I don’t drive much now and used it to ride to the shops and library and see my daughter nearby.

“But some nasty person went and took it, clearly without a thought for the hurt it would do.”

Janine, who cares for her husband David, has lived in the village since 1976 and word of her plight soon got round on social media.

Following discussions about it on the Aylesham and Snowdown Facebook page, a fundraising campaign was launched to help buy her a replacement.

Collections are taking place at the Sunshine Cafe and the Aylesham Rugby Club. Family friend Gill Hudson, who works at the medical centre, has lent Janine a bike until she gets a new one.

The stolen bike is a blue Specialized Expedition which cost almost £400.

Janine, who used to be a nursing auxiliary at St Martin’s Hospital in Canterbury, said: “I thought someone might have just jumped on it and ridden it up the road.

“But it happened last week and there’s been no sign of it, so I don’t expect to see it again. And, of course, I’m not insured because it wasn’t locked up in my garage.”

She has only just learned of the appeal to get her a new bike and was moved to tears.

She said: “It just shows there are some lovely people in Aylesham and a great sense of community.” ABOVE: Janine Gough with the bike loaned to her

RIGHT: A Specialized Expedition, identical to the one stolen from Janine Gough