Have the wheels come off Vince Cable’s campaign trail after the Business Secretary saw his trusty bicycle nicked while painting ceramics with Nick Clegg?

Dr Cable has been canvassing hard in Twickenham in recent weeks and one permanent fixture by his side has been his reliable set of wheels.

But callous thieves pinched his bike while parked at Richmond Adult Community College – while the Business Secretary painted ceramic plates with the Deputy Prime Minister.

Dr Cable said: “It was about a week or so ago and it was parked inside Richmond Adult Community College when Mr Clegg came to visit.

“It was quite a big event and I parked it inside the grounds, within sight of CCTV, but somebody tore the lock off and got away.

“It was medium-range price and quite a good bike actually – I had it about two years, I really liked it.”

Dr Cable, Lib Dem candidate in Twickenham and MP for 18 years, said he reported the incident to the college but nothing was caught on CCTV.

He has since purchased a new bicycle to travel around the constituency on.

He added: “I’m still a cycling fixture on the campaign trail but I have got a stronger lock this time.”