MAGOR services is a hot-spot for gangs of thieves preying on vehicles, police said in the wake of the theft of an Australian couple's motorbike.

Ralph Dixon, 42, and Fionnuala Livingston, 40, pictured, who were on the last leg of a five-month and 19,000 mile around-the-world trip to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, had their white BMW F650 stolen on Sunday afternoon.

The couple, who had travelled through countries like Iraq, Pakistan and India and sometimes slept with the bike in their rooms to protect it, were only 130 miles from finishing their journey in London when the thieves struck.

Mr Dixon said yesterday: "I'm not holding out much hope of seeing the bike again but the most upsetting thing is losing the CDs of pictures we took of our trip.

"I'm deeply upset by what's happened.

"We were thinking of writing a book and publishing the pictures but that doesn't look like it's going to happen now.

"Some of the pictures we took, especially the ones in Afghanistan, were absolutely priceless.

"What's really upsetting is that the people who've stolen the bike will probably just throw them away.

"We've only had a little trouble on the way - we had rocks thrown at us in Afghanistan and anti-Western feeling was running high in Pakistan - but nothing serious.

"But we've no sour feelings about Wales because we met some wonderful people on the way.

"When we arrived in London today we had so many e-mails from Welsh people wishing us well."

The couple are due to fly back to Australia in a few days' time.

Detective Sergeant Dave Edwards, from Chepstow CID, said: "It was a terrible thing to happen.

"Magor services is an area that is causing us concern and it is a hot-spot for thieves.

"There are gangs targeting the area who travel up from Bristol and Cardiff.

"I would advise anyone using the services to be vigilant."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111.