A FORCES fundraiser has appealed for thieves to return his stolen quad bike so he can support brave British soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

Adam Tait was planning on riding his vehicle through Wootton Bassett on Mother’s Day to help raise money for charity Afghan Heroes.

He fears he will not be able to take part after his £3,000 Apache Quad RLX 450 was taken from outside his home in Chideock.

Mr Tait, 37, said: “If you have any pride at all in our brave men and women fighting in Afghanistan, please return my bike.

“Just put it back where you took it from, or leave it somewhere obvious, so I can complete the ride and honour our soldiers on this poignant day.”

Mr Tait’s bike was locked up just feet from his house in Ridwood when it was stolen – the second time in months it has been taken.

“Luckily the first time I got it back,” he said. “I upped all my security measures, but now someone’s got around those too.

“I got up in the morning and all the locks had been forced and it was gone. I couldn’t believe it.”

Mr Tait, whose stepfather Nick Allen was in the Army, is one of 10,331 riders due to pass through Woottoon Bassett on March 14 in aid of Afghan Heroes.

“I wanted to take part to do my bit and help educate people about what it’s like in Afghanistan for our soldiers,” he said.

“Unfortunately even if I could get another vehicle, I don’t think I can swap the registration details over now.

“If I don’t get the bike back, that’s it. To have it taken away from me is gutting to say the very least.”

Mr Tait, who has to travel 20 miles for work in Chard, says the theft has made life very difficult for him and wife Debi.

He said: “It’s not the money so much, it’s the inconvenience.

“And the fact I might not be able to ride and support the Afghan Heroes charity is just a real kick in the teeth.”

An Afghan Heroes spokesman appealed for those responsible to ‘consider what they have done’ and return the quad bike.

He said: “The bike ride through Wootton Bassett is a way for the biking community to show their respect for the town’s people and our fallen heroes.

“The gravity of preventing Mr Tait from taking part and showing his personal respects to Wootton Bassett, the fallen and the serving troops who are putting their lives on the line for us cannot be emphasised enough.”