A teenage motocross champion's hopes of winning more races have been dashed after thieves stole his new bike.

George Welfare's red and gold Honda CRF450 worth £5,500 was stolen from a shed at his home in Rattle Road, Stone Cross, after thieves distracted his 8st bull mastiff, Murphy.

George, 16, has won more than 50 trophies and shields from motocross competitions and was hoping his bike would help him go on to win more.

He said: "I saved quite a bit towards the cost of the new Honda but it was mostly thanks to my whole family that I was able to have it this Christmas.

"I had high hopes for this season but now everything is up in the air."

George's father Mark, 47, has attended all his competitions.

He said: "My proudest moment was seeing him take part in his first adult competition last year.

"Amazingly, he won it outright which, because of his age, prompted the national Press to run the story. It was a massive buzz for me."

George, who is studying leisure and tourism at Sussex Downs College, works at Tesco in Lewes and at a building society to earn money to support his hobby.