Wheels in motion for bike's return

The £1,200 bike was sold for £10

A circus performer hopes to be doing cartwheels if she is reunited with her bike after it was wrongly sold in a charity shop when she was trying on clothes.

Emily Harris took her bike into the British Heart Foundation's charity shop in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, because she was worried that it might be stolen if left outside.

But while she was in a changing room a shop assistant sold the £1,200 Centurion bike to a male customer by mistake, for £10.

In an impassioned plea for its return, Ms Harris said the bike, which she built herself, had travelled round the world with her and had great "sentimental" value.

I am hoping they will see something in the paper or hear it on the radio and think 'hey, that's me' and return the bike

Emily Harris

"I brought my bike in and it was sold for £10 when I was in the fitting room trying on a shirt," the 25-year-old circus fire eater, from rural Alaska said.

"I left it inside (the shop) against a mannequin. One woman saw me bring it in, but the other one didn't and sold it - though she wasn't trying to be mean or anything."

The woman apologised for the oversight and said she would contact the manager but there was nothing they could do as the buyer had gone.

'Karmic' call

Management offered to replace the bike but Ms Harris said it had unique qualities.

"I built it myself and I have brought it all around. It's a real sentimental bike, it is perfect, custom-made just for me," Ms Harris went on.

"I have gone around Canada, most of America, Spain, France, England and Scotland with it.

"I am hoping they will see something in the paper or hear it on the radio and think 'hey, that's me' and return the bike."

As an added incentive, she said the person who bought the bike would be advised to return it to avoid "karmic retribution".