A mother has spoken of her “indescribable” joy after finding out good-willed residents are trying to raise money to replace her autistic son’s stolen bike.

Miriam Grundy-Evans was left devastated when she discovered her 15-year-old’s specially-adapted bike had been taken from their garage in Southdown Road, Harpenden, last month.

But her spirits have now been lifted thanks to an outpouring of support from Herts Advertiser readers, who since learning about the theft have started coming up with ways to fund a new bike.

The mum-of-one said: “Even if we don’t get it [a new bike] at least there are people thinking ‘That is an awful thing that happened’.

“It is wonderful to know that there are some really good people out there. They are not like the person or people who stole the bike.

“It is not something I have experienced before, people rallying around like that. It is completely indescribable.”

Miriam spent months saving up £500 to buy her son Daniel, who has severe autism, epilepsy, Tourette’s syndrome and an anxiety disorder, the Piggyback Mark 2 disability bike so they could go on cycle rides around the town.

The activity has become a major part of his weekly routine and, as the family has never been able to go on holiday together, provided them with something different they could do together.

Talking about the moment she discovered the bike had been stolen she said: “When I opened the garage and saw it, I really felt like it was the end of the world. I felt like that was the one thing that made me feel like I was really trying for him.

“I could understand them taking the other bikes but why the disabled one?”

Unfortunately it was not insured and the single mum cannot afford to buy a replacement. Miriam added: “At the moment it comes to Sunday and we are like ‘What are we going to do?’. To have it back in our lives would fill that gap.”

Two other mountain bikes were also stolen from the garage during the incident, which police believe occurred between 4pm on September 15 and 3pm on September 22. Anyone with information should contact Herts Police on the non-emergency 101 number.