London 2012 volunteer Gwyn Davies hit by bike theft

An Olympics volunteer says having his bike stolen from outside a London pub has "burst the bubble" he was living in while enjoying working at the Games.

Gwyn Davies, 57, a former international water polo player, originally from Newport but now living in Walsall, has been helping at the Aquatics Centre.

He had been riding to his volunteer work from a friend's home where his tent is pitched in the back garden.

"It could have happened anywhere," he said.

Mr Davies, who has captained the Welsh water polo side and played for the Britain team, said he is enjoying his time as a "games maker" for the teams at the centre.

I locked it against the railings with four other bikes - when I came back there were no locked bikes there and the bike lock was on the pavement”

He said: "It's been the most wonderful experience, apart from yesterday when my bike was stolen outside a pub - that really deflated all the bubbles."

Mr Davies has taken time off and travelled down to London at his own expense.

His tent is pitched in the back garden of an old college friend.

He said: "Last week my shoes and wallet went missing from my tent while I was asleep but I think that might have been a fox as I found a fox hole nearby.

"It did mean I had to cancel all my cards so I had to get my son to come down to help me sort that out.

"But that wasn't so bad - I was still enjoying myself - seeing matches such as that between Serbia and the US is just remarkable.

"That game was one of my highlights - it was just completely different to anything I had ever seen before."

The bike theft has left him "very angry and disappointed," said Mr Davies.

He said: "I locked it against the railings with four other bikes. When I came back there were no locked bikes there and the bike lock was on the pavement. It had been cut through with bolt croppers."

He added: "I had brought it down from Walsall and it meant I didn't have to rely on the busy transport network but could retain some independence.

"I would use it to go swimming on my days off but now I have to use the buses - and for someone who is in an unfamiliar city, it's a bit difficult."

But Mr Davies, who has lived in the West Midlands for 35 years, said: "The same thing could have happened in Walsall or Newport.

"I think London is an amazing, vibrant city. The fact that thousands of people cycle around London every day is amazing.

"Last night I was absolutely devastated. It was like somebody had burst this bubble I was living in."