A six-year-old boy has been left devastated by the theft of his £3,000 go-kart just days before he was due to take part in his first race.

The vehicle was taken from a garage in Rock Road, Sittingbourne, at about 10pm on Saturday.

Harry Still had been practising for months for his first ‘Bambinos’ race, due to have been this week at the Bayford Meadows Kart Circuit on the Eurolink Industrial Estate.

He now won’t be able to take part and his mum Laura, 27, said: “He’s traumatised by it.

“Some of our neighbours’ alarms went off and we’ve had sightings of it strapped to the roof of a car, heading onto the Island.”

The kart, which has a blue trim and the number 55 on it, has been security marked. It also included a race timer for measuring lap times, which alone cost £500.

Harry first began racing two days after he turned six back in September, with his first kart being bought as a present.

The Oaks Infant School pupil has been practicing every weekend and hoped to beat a group of other six to eight year olds in his category.

The family upgraded the kart as he needed “a new one” for the event.

They had only picked up the vehicle the day before from Ipswich. “Someone must have seen us put it in the garage I guess,” said Mrs Still.

According to Mrs Still, the petrol car has a 50cc engine and could reach speeds of up to 40mph.

There was one report of it being seen strapped to a silver Ford Puma, with a 52 registration plate, in the Sheerness area.

The family are now offering a reward for information that leads to its recovery.

Laura added: “We just want it back.”

If you have any information, call police on 01795 419119 and quote reference XY/001162/17.

A neighbour’s garage was also burgled at the same time, with Black & Decker power tools and a bicycle being taken. Witnesses are asked to call police quoting XY/001127/17.