RAIDERS intent on stealing from a flood-hit cycle shop in Carlisle removed tiles from the roof and made a hole through the ceiling.

The criminals broke into Scotby Cycles, in Church Street, Caldewgate, through the roof into a kitchen is next to the showroom.

An alarm immediately went off, notifying police. The would-be thieves made off empty handed before the police arrived shortly after 8.15pm on Sunday.

The break-in happened at a tough time for the shop, which has been closed since it was flooded at the start of December. Gary Dickson, ( CORR) the shop’s owner, was away at the time, visiting his sick dad in Ireland.

Staff at Scotby Cycles were shocked when police told them the news but it is not the first time burglars have targeted the shop. When the shop last flooded in 2005, thieves broke in and stole a few high value bikes that were never recovered.

Simon Stairs, ( CORR) operations manager at the shop, said: “The building is very secure, so for the alarm to go off it’s very rare.”

Since the floods at the start of December, staff have pulled together to get the shop open again. They are hosting a Flood Salvage Sale this Thursday until Saturday to sell off stock.

Bikes worth thousands of pounds are being sold off at hugely discounted prices – the biggest discount is a top of the range downhill VT bike, reduced from £6,000 to £2,500.

All kinds of bikes are in the sale and they are almost as good as new. They are being sold at discounted prices because flood water reached about half way up their wheels.

All sorts of other stock will also be on sale including wheel pumps, biking clothing, helmets, water bottles, pedals and tyres. Many people have been contacting the store asking to reserve certain items but everything will be sold on a first-come first-serve basis.

Scotby Cycles held a similar sale after the floods in January 2005 and it proved so popular people started queuing before the shop opened.

After the three-day sale the shop will close for refurbishment, which could take a couple of months. Doors to the sale will open at 9am on Thursday.

Police are investigating the burglary and are appealing for any information. If anyone saw anything suspicious contact police on 101, quoting log number 220 of February 14.