Thieves who carried out a ram-raid on a major motorcycle dealers have left police baffled.

For neither detectives nor the company involved can work out exactly how the raiders managed to drive a car up a barriered ramp and through the front door of Colin Appleyard's showroom in Worth Way, Keighley.

Now police are appealing for witnesses to the raid, in which up to three vehicles were used.

The thieves, who escaped with seven motorcycles worth £20,000, used a saloon car to break into the Appleyard showroom on Worth Way on Sunday evening.

They are then thought to have wheeled the bikes down a ramp and into the back of a white box van.

Director Stuart Feeny said: "They drove straight through the front door at 8.00 on Sunday evening.

"It just shows what a total disregard they have, they have absolutely no fear. We just don't know how they managed to get up the ramp.

"The police were unlucky not to catch them.

"One very public spirited person who saw them rang 999, but they got away before the police arrived.

"They have stolen five off-road bikes and two children's bikes worth around £20,000. But they damaged another six or seven superbikes when they broke in. The total value of the damage and the stolen bikes is about £50,000."

The raid is the latest in a series of thefts from Colin Appleyard's.

It was only in October that 24 bikes were stolen from the firm's warehouse nearby.

Mr Feeny added: "How can you encourage people to come to Keighley? There are murders and thefts.

"It's about time we got more police and they were given more power to do something."

"We have been in this showroom for 27 years and we are getting sick of cleaning up the mess. Insurance is becoming a major problem."

Detective Inspector Chris Moorehouse of Keighley Police said: "It happened at 8pm, which is still a fairly busy time, so it's highly likely that somebody will have seen something.

"A number of motorcycles were stolen. They were driven away in a white box van.

"We are also looking for information on a blue Vauxhall Cavalier which was also seen in the area.

"We would like anyone who thinks they might have seen anything, or who has any information, to contact us."

The number for Keighley crime desk is 01535 617059.