A HEARTBROKEN family's trial-biking holiday is ruined because thieves have stolen their motorcycles.

The Weekes family (pictured) were intending to head for a caravan park near Falmouth, Cornwall, on Saturday for a four-day break for trials-bike enthusiasts.

But Andrew Weekes, 45, said the holiday has had to be scrapped because of thieves who stole his Gas-Gas trials bike, worth £1,800, and his seven-year-old son Ben's beloved TY80 Yamaha bike, a Christmas present worth £650.

The thieves stole the bikes and a chainsaw after breaking into a garage at the family's Penhow home on the A48 Chepstow Road, Newport, while the family were out shopping. A distraught Mr Weekes said his son had "cried his eyes out" when he learnt of the theft. He and wife Patricia, a history teacher at Newbridge Comprehensive School, cannot afford to replace the uninsured machines.

Mr Weekes, a self-employed wood-turner, said last night: "We are absolutely devastated. "We were supposed to be going on a trials-bike holiday in Cornwall on Saturday, but have had to cancel it now - we will still have to pay for it.

"The bikes weren't insured and didn't come under the home contents. Ben is heartbroken - there is nothing we can really say to console him.

"The trials biking was a sport I thought he could take up for the future, but now that's been taken away. How can they do this to a seven-year-old? They are barbaric."

Confirming a Gwent Police investigation had been launched into the theft, PC Mark Jones, based at Alway, said: "The theft appears to have occurred between 3.30pm and 4.30pm, when two bikes and a chainsaw were stolen from a garage. The lock was secure and it looks like an implement has been used to open it.

"We are appealing for witnesses and trying to trace a blue car, believed to be a Toyota Hiace or Nissan model, witnessed leaving the scene."

Anyone with information should contact Alway police on 01633 245250. l The Gas-Gas trials bike is described as a silver and red 2000 TXT Andorra model bearing chassis number VTRGG 25000990013.

The TY80 Yamaha child's bike has a white petrol tank, silver frame and two blue mud guards.