A "silly, stupid prank gone wrong" saw a £600 mountain bike sold for just 20p.

Wilson and Mary Kay have pleaded for their grandson's Marin bike to be returned after their son's friends sold it for the knockdown price.

Their son had taken the bike to The Crown, in North Scale, Walney, to meet his friends.

Mr Kay said: "My son had taken the bike to go and ride with his friends, but they only got as far as the pub. There were quite a few of his mates outside on the tables and he went inside for a pint.

"There was a little lad passing with his two mates who had bikes. They asked where his was and he said he didn't have one.

"It's not the kids' fault. They said they'd give him the bike for 20p and he took it."

The Marin bike had been a costly expense when the family bought it a few years ago.

Mr Kay said: "It was quite an expensive bike when we first got it. It's a good bike.

"There's a slight problem with the brakes. They're alright but the bike's a few years old now and it isn't 100 per cent. Whoever's kid has got it will find there's a fault.

"It's been in the garage for six or seven years but my grandson's 17 now and he said he was going to use it more when he started college."

The couple hope to see the bike returned without police intervention.

Mr Kay said: "I don't want to cause too much of a stink. It was just a silly, stupid prank that's gone wrong.

"Who would try and sell a bike that doesn't belong to them for 20p?

"I don't want to get anyone in trouble. We just want to try and get the bike back."