An Australian couple whose motorbike was stolen in Gwent were due to be reunited with their machine today.

Ralph Dixon, 42, and Fionnuala Livingston, 40, were on the last leg of a five month, 19,000-mile journey to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society when their bike was stolen in Magor services on Sunday afternoon.

The couple, who had travelled through countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, were only 130 miles from finishing their mammoth trek in London when the thieves struck.

But after media appeals the distinctive white BMW F650 was recovered in the Cardiff area late on Monday night.

The couple returned to Wales today from their London hotel to regain their bike.

Mr Dixon, an MS sufferer, said: "We've no sour feelings about Wales because we met some wonderful people on the way."

Detective Constable Arwel Hicks, from Caldicot CID, said: "It's a really heart-warming story and we are very pleased for the couple."