Two photographers who had their bikes stolen during the Whitstable classic car show have warned of a growing problem of thefts in the area.

Andreea Paciu, 41, and her boyfriend Matt Arnold, 42, of Regent Street, had left their bikes chained to a road sign in St Anne’s Road before heading down to get some shots of the vintage vehicles on Tankerton Slopes.

But when the couple, who run Whitstable Light and Imagination Photography, returned two hours later, their bikes - worth £600 each - were gone.

Miss Paciu said: “It was a busy area so we thought someone may have seen something.

“They were chained up with a proper metal chain with plastic covering so they would have needed cutters to get it off.

“We did ask people who were nearby if they had seen anything but they hadn’t.

“It’s very upsetting, especially as we were in the process of planning a cycling holiday and now we’ll have to buy new bikes.”

Miss Paciu said bike thefts in the area seemed to be becoming more frequent.

“It’s happening a lot in Whitstable,” she said.

“We’ve heard of at least three friends in the last few days who have had their bikes taken.

“I don’t know if thieves are selling them. None of the bike shops around here would take them if they might be stolen.”

Keith Spencer, who owns Herberts Cycles in High Street, said he had heard of more bike thefts in the Whitstable area recently.

“It seems to be a bit of an elevated problem at the moment,” he said.

“We do get people coming in and saying they’ve had their bike stolen and asking if we’ve seen them or to let them know if we do. We’ve had quite a bit of that recently.

“Bikes these days look very lovely, they are quite a desired product, hence why they are going missing.” - Keith Spencer from Herberts Cycles

“I personally have been told that bikes are being taken more than average at the moment.

“To be honest, it’s most likely people wanting bikes for cash rather than because they want a bike.

“They think they can turn them into cash. They won’t stay in the area. The bikes will get removed and taken somewhere to be sold. There will be vans full of bikes.

“Some of these online auction sites are quite hush hush and they are not policed.

“Bikes these days look very lovely, they are quite a desired product, hence why they are going missing.”

Miss Paciu and Mr Arnold’s bikes were taken between 2pm and 4.30pm on Sunday (August 21).

One was an Ariel Sport, black with teal and white details frame number WSBC812109686I, and the other a Crosstrail Sport, also black with some red details, frame number WSBC602113990J.

Kent Police said six bikes had been stolen between Friday (August 19) and Sunday (August 21), the majority in the daytime.

The locations of the thefts were High Street, St Anne’s Road, St John’s Road, Harbour Street and Green Lane.

Sgt Colette Todd said: “I would be keen to speak to anybody who saw these thefts happening or has been offered a cheap bicycle by somebody.

“I would urge bicycle owners to ensure their bikes are secured with good quality locks in safe locations, particularly if they are being left all day.”

Anyone who has any information should call police on 01843 222 289 quoting reference ZY/029215/16.