Bicycle owners are more vulnerable to theft in Glasgow than any other major city outside London, according to a new survey.

Bicycle owners are more vulnerable to theft in Glasgow than any other major city outside London, according to a new survey.

An insurance company tested how quickly unlocked cycles were stolen in 10 UK cities to highlight the importance of securing them properly.

It found that a bike they left in Buchanan Street, Glasgow, was taken after just 90 minutes, compared to London Bridge Station, where one disappeared after only 17 minutes.

Birmingham was third in More Than's league table of bicycle crime after one was taken in less than two hours from a market.

In contrast, Liverpool is the safest place to leave an unsecured bike, with lazy thieves taking almost four hours to liberate a test bike costing £130.

Other cities involved in the experiment were Bristol, Manchester, Norwich, Newcastle, Portsmouth and Cardiff.

The insurer said it was shocked by the "efficiency and expertise" of the thieves. Many of the bikes were taken by opportunistic passers-by, and one enterprising thief managed to make his escape on his own bike while towing away the stolen bike.

Marketing director Pete Markey said: "The experiment has shown us that it doesn't matter who you are or where you live: if you don't take the necessary precautions, it's only a matter of time before your bike is stolen.

"It really does make sense then to ensure your bike is secured properly to an immovable object before you leave it unattended, and to think about taking out insurance cover just in case the worst should happen."

According to government figures, 300,000 bikes are stolen in the UK every year - equivalent to one every two minutes. The insurance firm said the average bicycle costs £218, which adds up to a loss of £65m every year. Summer time in particular is usually marked by a spate of thefts, as more people use their bikes when the weather is warm.

The Home Office recommend that bicycle owners should always use a high quality lock and chain and ensure that it is fixed through the wheels and frame to an immovable object. Police stations often offer security tagging facilities, which can aid in the recovery of stolen bikes.