Kent fisherman appeals for return of stolen 1920s Pashley butcher's bike

A man from Kent has appealed for the return of a 1920s Pashley butcher’s bicycle, which he uses to sell oysters from at festivals and other events.

The black bike was stolen between midnight and 4am this morning from Mark Hamilton’s flat in Golfinch Close, Faversham, reports Kent Online.

The fisherman, who says it is his only transport, had planned to sell oysters from the bike’s front basket at the Faversham Food Festival next weekend.

The theft has been reported to the police, and Mr Hamilton said: "This bike is part of the town's heritage. It always goes down well at the events around the town and it's become a bit famous.

"But now it's a little bit more of Faversham's heritage gone. I've had it for so many years and now it's gone.

"Someone used bolt croppers to cut through the lock so they knew what they were doing.
"I'm cheesed off to say the least," he added.

Anyone who has information can contact Kent Police on 101.

Mr Hamilton, it turns out, is no stranger to the local press.

Last year, when police arrived at his home to investigate reports of a dispute with his neighbours, they discovered live explosives he had discovered while fishing and which he described as “souvenirs” on his mantelpiece.

That resulted in a bomb disposal team being brought in to safely destroy the ordnance, as happened again in February when he found more unexploded shells while dredging for oysters.

More recently, in May when Kent was struck by an earthquake which measured 4.2 on the Richter scale, he described how he became aware something wasn’t right during his early morning fishing trip due to the absence of crabs and birdsong.