Strangers rallied behind an Ironman competitor who had her bike stolen as she arrived in town.

Emma Renwick, aged 36, was dropping off her bag for the run transition at Queen’s Park yesterday when her racing bike was stolen.

The bicycle, a white Giant Defy with Mavic wheels, was locked to a bike rack on a car when it was taken.

Emma was still able to take part in her first Ironman race thanks to friends from her hometown of Stockton-on-Tees who had a spare bike and were just about to set off for Bolton when they heard about the theft.

Helen Smith, aged 43, who was with Emma when the bike went missing said: “She was all over the place last night.”

The bike is estimated to be worth more than £1,500 and has sentimental value as Emma used it to cycle on the most famous climbs of the Tour de France.

Emma’s friend Helen posted a message on an Ironman Facebook group appealing for help.

The post received over 150 reactions and 100 comments of support from strangers who offered their own bikes and promised to cheer for Emma on the day.

She said: “People were offering help all over. They were just incredible."

Helen said that the Ironman organisers were helpful too.

She said: “The Ironman people were really good. They said she could drop the bike off later because it was exceptional circumstances.”

The incident was logged with police immediately, but because there was no CCTV or any known witnesses, it seems unlikely that they will be able to find the stolen bike.

Helen said that there may be a reward for whoever finds the bike because it has such sentimental value for Emma.