KIND-HEARTED Bankies have donated more than £1,800 towards funding a new electric bike for a popular Drumry pensioner after it was stolen while he was shopping as he shopped for his groceries in Clyde Shopping Centre.

Jim Gallacher, 72, still works part-time in B&Q Drumchapel and used the bike to get him to and from his work, as well as to run errands and visit his wife in a local care home.

Police say the bike, which is black and has a basket attached to the front, was taken from the bicycle rack near the former Dunnes store inside the Clyde Shopping Centre at around 3.10pm on Thursday, September 3.

On Friday, his family set up a GoFundMe to raise money for a new bike, as Jim will be unable to meet the £2,500 cost of a replacement bike by himself.

As the Post went to press the appeal had raised more than £1,850.

Police say enquiries are ongoing.

Jim is well known for his work at the public park in the town’s Crown Avenue, where he makes planters and encourages local children to get involved in planting and painting them to instil a sense of pride in their community.

He also received an award from the nursery at St Eunan’s Primary School after he designed, provided and built a playhouse for the children when his great-grandson attended.

Jim’s sister-in-law, Lisa Gallacher, posted on Facebook to ask people to look out for the bike, and is offering a cash reward if it’s returned.

She said: “Jim is well liked and well thought of in Clydebank and at his work in B&Q. He uses the bike to get around, and “It’s shocking that someone has helped themselves to it.

“He had saved up for this bike and he’s in his 70s, it’s unbelievable that this has happened.

“He has built beautiful wooden planters in Crown Ave and provided the youngsters with materials and plants to paint, fill and maintain them, encouraging the youngsters to take pride in their community. “Jim is a proud man who is always helping others. He has worked hard all of his life and used this bike to get to his work at B and Q, , and to visit his wife, who has dementia and is now living in Frank Downie House.

“This theft has really shaken him. He has saved very hard for this bike that was a few thousand pounds to help maintain his daily routine.

“We will as a family help him as much as possible but to the people who offered, as little as a pound will make a big difference and restore his faith in the community of Clydebank, a town he has done so much for.

“In the unlikely event that the bike is found any money raised would be shared between Frank Downie Care Home and a local Youth Organisation.

“I hope whoever stole it is proud of themselves. What a low life thing to do.”

If the bike is recovered, the money raised through the online appeal will be split between the Frank Downie House care home in Dalmuir and a local youth organisation.

You can donate to the fund-raiser, and track the appeal’s progress by searching for ‘Jim Gallacher’ at gofundme.com and clicking on the first search result.

If you have any information about the theft, you can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1918 of September 3, 2020.