A HEARTBROKEN Paralympic hopeful was left unable to train after thieves stole swimming gear from his family’s car.

Lyndon Longhorne’s mother said the 16-year-old swimmer is devastated after a bag containing his training equipment was pinched from the boot of their Skoda Octavia.

It was parked within sight of their home at West End Villas in Crook, County Durham, when thieves broke in sometime between last night (Monday March 18) and 6am this morning (Tuesday, March 19).

They ransacked the glove box before getting into the boot and grabbing a black and white TYR bag containing Lyndon’s swimming gear.

Items inside included two pairs of goggles, trunks, toiletries, a hockey ball and seat belt he uses in his training sessions, energy tablets and a Durham City club swimming hat.

His mother Tammy Shevels said: “They have taken his pride and joy, swimming is his life and Lyndon is very upset.

“The bag’s got his good swimming things in and without them he is not able to train.”

The theft has also upset the family as it happened hours before they were going to celebrate Lyndon’s brother Kenny’s 11th birthday.

“Everyone around here knows Lyndon and knows that is our car," she added.

“Everything in the bag is marked as Lyndon’s, whoever took it will know it belongs to Lyndon.

“Because it has no value I suspect they just dumped it somewhere, I am urging people to be on the lookout for it.

“I just want the bag and its contents returned.”

Lyndon, who was an Olympic torch bearer last summer, hopes to represent Great Britain at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil.

When he was nine months old he had both legs, an arm and part of a hand amputated after contracting meningitis.

The bag and its contents will cost about £300 to replace, but Ms Shevels it will have no re-sale value to thieves.

She said: “The distinctive bag and its contents have no value other than to Lyndon.”

Sunglasses and a small electric air compressor worth £10 were also stolen.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crook neighbourhood policing team on 101.