A mum was forced to walk home with her children after their bikes were ‘vandalised’ outside a lifestyle centre.

Helen van Sittert, from Amersham, was left dismayed after one of her regular trips to the Chilterns Lifestyle Centre on Monday (June 12).

Someone had deflated the tyres on her and her son’s bikes and her chain had been taken off.

The tyres on a third bike and a moped were also flat and the L plates on the moped appeared damaged, she said.

The mum-of-two said: "It could be dangerous.

"I find it distasteful they would do it to a young family.

“I suspect it was teenagers up to no good but it’s frustrating they would do that to a child’s bike as it’s clearly a child’s bike. I’ve got a seat on mine, and I very clearly transport a little person.

“You feel you’re doing something good cycling rather than driving and to have your equipment vandalised.”

She was “particularly annoyed” they had done the tyres on her seven-year-old son’s bike.

To ensure she didn’t risk damaging the wheels, which are an expensive part of a bike, she made the decision to leave the bikes locked up and go home to get a pump in heavy downpour.  

“My son was quite upset, both he and my daughter were,” physiotherapist Helen said.

Although they were upset, the children found it “amusing” after she told them the police would be involved.

“They asked if the police will find the bad guys, they were quite amused,” she said.

Like many families, Helen has taken advantage of the activities at the Lifestyle Centre, which opened officially in December 2021.

Both her son and three-year-old daughter go to swimming lessons there every week.

She continued: “I don’t think we’ll be parking on the side again, there’s another bike park at the front with more traffic.

“I thought Amersham would be a safe place, and there’s a children’s play park just a few metres away!”

Buckinghamshire Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure Clive Harriss said: “Whilst the Council provides cycle specific parking and in an overlooked area with CCTV by its very nature it is difficult to increase security. The damage is mindless low level vandalism and the centre’s operators will do their best to assist with pumping up tyres that have been deflated.

“We recommend that all cyclists padlock their bikes and remove any detachable lights and accessories, which might attract petty thieves. We are working with the police to assist with their investigation to stop and catch these vandals.”