JOBLESS Andrew Beckett followed Norman Tebbit's infamous example to "get on his bike" when he cycled 13 miles from Pocklington to York to visit a job centre.

But thieves left him without pedal-power after they stole his mountain bike as he searched through the latest vacancies at Stonebow Jobcentre.

The 19-year-old, from Southfield Road, had only been made redundant seven days earlier when he cycled from the East Yorkshire town to York city centre, last Wednesday.

He said he hated to think what would happen to him next Wednesday, given his luck over the previous two weeks.

Andrew said the thieves had cut through his bike lock before stealing the machine, which had been parked off Fossgate.

"I was cycling to save money because I don't have any coming in at the moment," he said.

"It was a nice day, so I thought I would ride in. I locked my bike on the railings outside the model shop in Fossgate. I went to the job centre and when I came back it had gone.

"All that was left was the lock and it had been sawn off. I was gutted. I was also pretty angry because I couldn't believe it had happened.

"I have had to start looking round about for another job because all I have got is my own two feet.

"I need my bike to get around. I have reported its theft to the police, but I am not expecting to hear anything back."

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman confirmed that Andrew had reported his bike stolen to the force.

Updated: 10:33 Saturday, April 19, 2003