A charitable couple who cycled from London to Paris had their bicycles stolen just hours after they returned to the UK.

Renalda Kilian, 39, and husband Jacques, 44, endured almost 300 miles of thrill, pain and pleasure on their four day fundraising trip for Action Medical Research.

The couple from Barnes set off on September 10 and arrived in Paris three days later, before returning to St Pancras via Eurostar on September 14.

Arriving back in London, the pair chose to cycle back to their home in Treen Avenue and stopped to get a takeaway and visit the Sainsbury’s Local in White Hart Lane on their way home.

The husband and wife left their bicycles outside while getting food, which Mrs Kilian said took 10 minutes, but on their return found their mode of transport had been stolen.

Mrs Kilian said: "We walked home in complete silence with our cycling shoes still on, helmets on. It was like a bad dream.

"We were standing under the Eiffel Tower with our bikes one minute and hours later we were walking home from the local Sainsbury’s on foot.

"We were angry, deflated and utterly disillusioned after such a high and cycling through dangers, high speed, challenging hills and emotional lows."

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The police were informed of the theft and the case was logged, but the couple said they have since learned the CCTV cameras outside the supermarket were not operational on the evening.

Mrs Kilian said the charity had offered to courier their bicycles home after an attack in Paris left her shaken, but they declined the gesture.

She said: "If we did accept it, we might have still had our bikes today."

The couple have so far raised more than £2,500 for Action Medical Research.

To donate, visit action.org.uk/sponsor/renaldakilian.