PARENTS and schoolchildren are fuming after a thief raided a bike shed and stole bicycles during school hours.

A thief crept onto the grounds of Castle View School, in Foksville Road, Canvey, on Monday some time between 9am and 3pm and broke into the shed.

It is understood three bikes were stolen then, and others have been stolen previously.

The thief even used bolt cutters to cut through locks.

Mum-of-two Maxine Lowry, 42, of Winterswyk Avenue, Canvey, was shocked when her 14-year-old son had to walk home from school after a thief stole his Scott mountain bike from the shed earlier this month.

She said: “I know of at least ten bikes that have been stolen in the last three weeks, parents have been messaging me on Facebook.

“It is getting beyond a joke.

“People are going in and picking and choosing which bikes they fancy.

“My son ended up having to walk home to the Dutch Village after his bike was stolen.

“I was absolutely livid when I found out.

“It cost £400 and he had only had it for about six months because he got it for Christmas.

“It was insured but I still had to pay £100 for excess.”

A 43-year-old dad-of-two, who asked not to be identified, said that his son’s Scott Aspect black bike was stolen from the shed on Monday.

The dockworker said: “My son uses his bike every day, it is his pride and joy.

“We have got a 26-mile charity bike ride coming up in September and we won’t be able to do that now.

“The shed needs to be secured a lot better - there has been a massive piece of perspex missing.

“There are two great big bike sheds at the back of the school in the playground protected by high fences, which begs the question why can’t we use them?”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating the theft of two bikes from the grounds of Castle View School, in Foksville Road, Canvey.

“So far, no arrests have been made in connection with the thefts.”

Nobody at Castle View School could be reached for comment at the time of going to press.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call the community policing team at Canvey police station on Essex Police 101.

Alternatively, you cancall independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.