A GP whose bike was stolen from his home in Alexandria has said he is grateful for the public support.

Dr Simon Ardern used his £5,500 e-bike to make house calls to sick and vulnerable patients from his surgery in Arrochar, as well as for taking breaks from the stress of the pandemic and sudden death of his father.

But the bike was stolen from his locked shed on July 12, as the Reporter revealed last month.

Now a fund-raising appeal has been launched to “help us get Dr Ardern back on his bike” and brought in more than £600 so far.

Dr Ardern said: “The reaction to the story was fantastic - I had a lot of people reaching out to me, random people scouring the internet, Gumtree, eBay for the bike to see if someone is trying to sell it.

READ MORE: Thieves make off with £5,500 bike used by GP to reach his patients

“I’m touched by the fund-raiser too. Honestly it’s been quite humbling.

"As outgoing as I am, I don’t try to be the centre of attention - but I am touched by it all.”

Dr Ardern said a witness saw the bike in Kingussie the evening it was stolen but the trail then went cold.

The fund-raiser can be found at gofundme.com/f/get-dr-ardern-back-on-his-bike.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 101, quoting incident 1357 of July 12.

READ MORE: Click here for all the latest news headlines from around Dumbarton and the Vale