A CHARITY fundraiser has put up £500 of his own cash in a bid to catch the low-lifes who stole his “essential” trailer.

Les Cockle of Yorkley has been selling refurbished cycles for 10 years, raising thousands of pounds for the Relay for Life cancer charity.

He says he may be forced to give up if the trailer, worth some £1,200, is not returned.

The Ifor Williams P7 trailer was stolen from Lydney Road, Yorkley sometime on Saturday.

The row of bikes for sale outside Mr Cockle’s home is a familiar sight in the area.

He said: “This weekend I had my trailer stolen and I am offering a reward of £500 for finding whoever is responsible and returning my trailer.

“Without the trailer I may have to give up what I am doing for Relay for Life.

“I can’t imagine anything lower than stealing from a charity.

“The trailer is essential because I need to move stuff around.”

He recently made a journey to Staffordshire with the trailer to take one bike and pick up a couple more.

Former commercial vehicle mechanic Mr Cockle is asking anyone with information to contact Gloucestershire Police.

He sells the bikes, which are for children or adults, for an average of around £30 but never more than £50.

Despite the low price tags, he has raised nearly £15,000 in the last two years from the sales.

He said: “I am offering £500 of my own money because I want to get the trailer back.”

The trailer was secured with a bolt but the thieves cut through that.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police said: “Police received a report that a 4ft by 7ft trailer was stolen from Lydney Road between 6pm on Saturday and 8.45am on Sunday. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident 98 of September 23.”

Relay for Life raises money for Cancer Research and efforts in the Forest have contributed more than half a million pounds over the last 14 years.

The next event is a ‘moonwalk’ in Lydney on October 6.

The 3km walk starts with an instructor-led warm-up in the Co-op car park in Newerne Street, Lydney.

Entry forms are available at the kiosk in the Co-op or on Facebook. Ask for Richard or Emma at the Co-op kiosk or e-mail [email protected]

Entry forms have to be submitted by Saturday (September 29).