THIEVES lifted a £2,000 stunt bike at least five feet into the air to steal it from a showground in an astonishing late-night raid.

The Honda CRF450 has been at the centre of Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt Show for eight years and was boxed in by trucks and vans as it camped up for two nights of performances at Fisherrow Links, Musselburgh, last week.

But rider Scott and his team were stunned to discover the bike had been stolen overnight.

Promoter Alex Marshall said a team of at least four thieves must have been involved in taking the bike.

He said: “We blocked it in with two trucks, two vans and a quad. They lifted the bike about five foot in the air and scraped the cab roof of the truck.

“Three of our lads tried to lift the other one and they were struggling and blowing hard. There must’ve been about four to do it.”

Mr Marshall said the bike was a key part of the show and used to perform stunts including leaping through fire and over vehicles.

In the aftermath of the theft, a £500 reward for the return of the prized bike pledging “no questions asked” was offered.

However, it remains stolen and the show has now moved on from the town.

A police spokesperson said: “Police Scotland has received a report of a theft of a motorbike.

“The incident is reported to have happened between midnight and 10am on Thursday, July 19, from the Fisherrow Links area.

“Inquiries into the full circumstances are ongoing.”

Call 101 with information, quoting incident number 1458 of July 19.