THE dreams of a talented Gwent motocross rider could be over after his bikes worth £18,000 were stolen.

His father has now offered a £1,000 reward for their return, so 18-year-old Ryan Williams can compete in national events this summer.

Ryan spent the bank holiday weekend competing in the British Schoolboy Motorcycle Association (BSMA) championships at Wroxton Motopark, Oxfordshire, where he finished third in his class in a field of 300.

But, after returning home to Llanfair Road, Caerwent on Sunday night, two bikes, worth £9,000 each plus a mountain bike worth £1,900 were stolen.

Ryan's dad Tim said thieves had used bolt cutters to break into the wooden unit.

He said: "They'd left chains from the bikes on the floor, but even took a big metal bar from across the door.

"They had turned sensors around so alarms wouldn't go off, so must have cased the place before. We use a big lorry and when thatÕs not there, people know I'm out."

The theft is a devastating blow to the family- with Tim Williams, a window cleaner, using much of his income to fund his son's passion for the past 10 years.

He said: "Ryan has a lot of talent and weÕre gutted. ItÕs taken 10 years since we started, buying a bike, selling it, getting a better one- and itÕs all gone overnight.

"This could be the end as we canÕt afford to buy another one."

Ryan has shown huge promise and his dad joked "third seems to be his place" after he finished in that position on the weekend and in other competitions such as the recent KWS British Championships.

The next BSMA event is in Rhayader later this month, but unless the bikes are found, Ryan wonÕt be able to compete.

The motocross bikes stolen were both KTM 250 SXF, one with an orange frame and the other black and orange. They are each worth around £6,000, but modifications such as brakes and exhaust pipes take the value to £9,000 each.

A Scott Gambler mountain bike worth £1,900 was also taken.

Mr Williams has offered a £1,000 reward for information leading to their return.