A pensioner from Oldham only had the chance to ride his brand-new motorbike once before it was stolen days later.

Nigel Jones, who lives in the Springhead area of Oldham, said his Royal Enfield Classic 350 Chrome bike was stolen from his property by a group of men on Wednesday (May 3) at 10.33pm.

Describing the motorcycle as his "pride and joy" what with it being less than 12 months old, Nigel said he had "scrimped and saved" for it with his pension before finally completing the purchase on Easter Saturday.

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However, just 17 days later, Nigel said he was shocked to discover the bike's tarp cover was found strewn on the lawn one morning while his motorcycle, valued at around £4,000, was nowhere to be seen.

He rushed to check his CCTV footage and said his heart "sank" when he saw a trio of masked men make off with it.

The bike enthusiast, who worked as a car mechanic before retirement, said: "I was absolutely gutted - that's the only way to describe it.

"I'm more than devastated as obviously, my only income is my pension and I've scrimped and saved to get it and now it's gone.

"I wasn't annoyed or angry, it was just this sinking feeling.

"I put so much work into it just for it to be taken away so blatantly."

After contacting Greater Manchester Police, Nigel said he went on his own mission to try to find it after receiving tip-offs of potential sightings from neighbours and people on social media.

Unfortunately, this search has been unsuccessful.

The Oldham Times: The pensioner had only owned the motorbike for 17 days and had ridden it just once before it was stolenThe pensioner had only owned the motorbike for 17 days and had ridden it just once before it was stolen (Image: Nigel Jones)

The 70-year-old said: "Being disabled and a bit restricted, tinkering with the bike gave me something to do.

"It gave me freedom.

"I always liked big bikes but this one was ideal with it being light and a steady plodder.

"It was lovely. I had only ridden it once because I was cleaning and polishing it to get it how I want it."

Nigel said he has lived on the street for 12 years this year and "nothing like this happens".

He added: "It just makes you feel iffy and you lose your sense of security.

"You wonder if there are people keeping an eye on your place."

The footage shows three people, all dressed in dark clothing with their faces concealed, approaching Nigel's motorbike outside his home at 10.30pm.

The Oldham Times: Nigel said he is gutted and devastated by the theftNigel said he is gutted and devastated by the theft (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge)

While one man stood further down the street, presumably on "lookout" Nigel said, the other two got to work in freeing the bike from its chain.

It took the pair more than two minutes to liberate the bike and move it, however, they are then seen dropping the bike on the grass and running away from the scene when a car drives past.

But they then return around five minutes later where they initially linger outside Nigel's home as a second car drives down the street before running back to the bike where they wheel it away.

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Watching the shocking footage again, Nigel said: "It's heartbreaking.

"I wish I had seen them to clear them off. I'd only gone to bed minutes before they came and half 10 at night is a bit early, I would think.

"It's a bit hard-faced.

"It's shocking and it's the audacity of them taking it too - it was chained up underneath my bedroom window."

Since the lock and chain the bike was secured with are also missing, Nigel said police could only assume that the thieves cracked the lock and took it with them so that the force couldn't trace it for fingerprints. 

In a statement to The Oldham Times, Greater Manchester Police said the incident was reported to the force but that no arrests have been made.

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.