A cyclist is to get her stolen tricycle back in time for Christmas.

Heather Watts, 51, of Southmead, was visiting her partner's house in Southville and went inside to say hello before locking her bike up.

But, when she came out just a few minutes later, the £970 trike, a red Pashley Tri One, had been stolen.

Over the next three days, Heather searched the area and found a trail of items she had in the distinctive trike's basket that showed the thief's escape route.

But, as if to prove the Christmas spirit is still alive and well, strangers who heard of her misfortune returned other pieces of clothing that were tossed away in the getaway, including a pair of socks.

Heather said: "He dropped my helmet and gloves, which I retrieved the following Sunday, and a diary and notebook. My rucksack and clothing were dumped adjacent to the Malago, close to the bottom of Hartcliffe Road, which one kind person picked up.

"Another stranger found my socks. I was in a cafe telling people about what had happened, and by chance they said, 'Have you got a pair of brown and orange socks?'."

Then yesterday Heather had a call from Broadbury Road police station in Knowle to say the tricycle had been found near Hartcliffe Library.

Heather, a technician at the University of the West of England, said: "I put up lots of posters about my tricycle and the story appeared on the Post website yesterday.

"I had a phone call from the police who said a member of the public reported that they had found it close to Hartcliffe Library.

"I'm very grateful to them.

"You should be able to leave things for a few minutes without locking them up, but I guess you can't these days."

Heather had only recently repaired her trike after it was damaged by a car.

She bought earlier this year on a cycle to work scheme.

It was stolen at around 7pm on Friday, December 5.

Heather said: "At 51, I was new to cycling and I opted for a three-wheeler to give me more confidence and stability on the road.

"Since spring 2008, my trike has been from Bristol to London and back, across Dartmoor and Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride.

Anyone who saw the theft or knows who took the trike should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.