A politician had his bike stolen as he was addressing Enfield Borough Council about the importance of cycling.

Enfield’s cycling champion Councillor Alan Sitkin spoke at a full council meeting in Enfield Civic Centre in Silver Street on Wednesday and locked his bike in the council’s on site car park.

The Labour politician backed the creation of bike lanes in the borough and addressed the council about the need to encourage people to take up cycling as a sustainable and healthy mode of transport.

However, when he left the building at 11.30pm to find his bike, he realised the lock had been slashed and his prized bicycle was nowhere to be seen.

He said: “I'm glad they like cycling but they should ask first before borrowing mine.

"It is quite poignant that in the middle of a council session advocating bike use, my bike is getting nicked."

“It is relatively old and you wonder to what extent the person thins they can make money or whether it was vandalism," he added.

The politician, who cycles most days, always parks near to the car park’s entrance where it is light as he has had his bike lights stolen in the past.

As cycling champion, Cllr Sitkin represents the borough at official cycling events and works to promote cycling in Enfield.

The unlucky councillor is yet to replace the bike and had to catch a bus back to his home near Southgate.