Worthing council leader's bike stolen during business meeting

Labour council leader Beccy Cooper was at a business meeting on Friday (17 June) when her bike was stolen from outside the Ardington Hotel.

During one of her weekly update videos, the council leader said: “I met with the Town Centre Initiative which is a great group of local businesses that represent our greater town centre businesses and they’re such a passionate lot – they’ve got some great ideas about how to bring our town to life.

“A slight downside, the meeting was at the Ardington Hotel and my bicycle got nicked.

“I think there were quite a lot of bicycles nicked last week.

“That was a lesson to me because I hadn’t got the security stamp on it, so I will definitely make sure I’ve got that next time.”

Dr Cooper said she was still able to cycle due to the recycled bikes available locally and she thanked everyone who promised to keep an eye out for her stolen bike.

There has been an increased number of bike thefts in Worthing, and Sussex Police says it will be stepping up patrols in response.

A total of 32 thefts were recorded in the town between May 1 and June 16, including at Splash Point, Montague Street, Marine Parade and Worthing railway station.