A housekeeper was shocked to be told her bike theft would not be investigated, despite having CCTV evidence of a company branded vehicle at the scene of the crime.

Cheryl Dawes cycled to work at the Blue Anchor, in Feering, as usual on August 15 but later found her bike was nowhere to be seen.

Mrs Dawes, 61, viewed the pub’s CCTV, which she says shows two people getting out of a van, cutting the lock and loading her bike into the back of the vehicle, which had a company’s name on it.

But police say they have closed the case because the footage is too grainy and the company won’t return their phone calls.

Mrs Dawes said: “I presumed it was the usual theft of a bike, however we soon found out it wasn’t.

“Upon checking the footage we identified a van pulling up and two gentleman in high visibility jackets jumped out.

“They cut the bike lock and loaded it on the back of the van.

“The amazement came when we looked at the van. The logo can be clearly seen.

“We realised they were a courier company who were dropping off packages and decided to help themselves to my bike.

“I reported the incident to the police and also to the company.”

She said the company, which the Times is not identifying for legal reasons, initially said the van had been stolen in Scotland.

After that, it said the driver had been dealt with and had made a statement to police.

Mrs Dawes said: “The company then advised me the police had no interest in the driver’s report.

“Since then Colchester police have advised there is no record of any visit to the police station, plus the company won’t return their calls.

“I appreciate I will never see my bike again, which is my life-saver getting to and from work as walking really impacts my arthritis.

"However the fact a company which is trusted with people’s possessions behaves in such a way is truly worrying.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We reviewed CCTV images of the suspects, but unfortunately they were not clear enough to identify the men.

"We have attempted to contact the courier company, but have so far not received a response and have not received any contact from them.

“Unfortunately we have exhausted lines of enquiry at this stage, but we will investigate any further information that comes to light.”

The company did not respond to the Times’ request for a comment.

Anyone with information should call Colchester police on 101.