An ex-soldier who is having cancer treatment was horrified when thieves nearly stole his motorbike from the hospital.

Brian Winton was had parked his treasured bike at Mount Vernon Hospital last Wednesday for a radiotherapy appointment.

The 58-year-old was diagnosed with throat cancer in August and visits the hospital for appointments almost daily.

But when he came out, he spotted his bike on its side and two police officers and a hospital worker inspecting it.

He was told that the hospital worker had gone to the car park to check on his own bike after seeing a suspicious white van pull up.

Two younger looking people were inside the vehicle while two others got out and tried to drag the van into the boot.

The hospital worker shouted at them and they got scared, before driving off and leaving the van behind.

Mr Winton, who fought in the Falklands War, said: “The hospital worker managed to foil them, I don’t know what would have happened if he wasn’t there.

“I’m glad they didn’t steal the bike, but I’m frustrated this has happened to me.”

The bike has substantial scratches and needed a new wing mirror, but he was able to drive it home to Hemel Hempstead as normal.

He had been planning on selling it but the damage will cost around £1,000 in total to repair.

The witness took the van’s number plate and the police were able to trace it to an address up north.

But they said there is “nothing” they can do as Mount Vernon does not have CCTV cameras and it is impossible to prove who was driving the van at the time.

Mr Winton added: “I’m annoyed the police can’t do anything.

“I’m not scared of taking my bike to hospital now but I do park it where I can be seen. It has made me a little more nervous to park though.”

The Watford Observer has contacted Hertfordshire Police for comment.