Edward Churchman whose fishing gear was stolen from his shed, went to pick up fishing equipment from Bill Goodbody from Barking who read our story in last week's Post and offered to give his old gear away for free. - pictured- Edward with Bill and his fishing gear

An angler from Dagenham was moved to tears when a stranger offered to replace his stolen fishing equipment after reading about the theft in the Post.

Edward Churchman, 70, was devastated when he discovered all his fishing kit had been stolen from his shed.

Bill Goodbody, 76, read of Mr Churchman’s plight and called to offer his own collection of equipment.

Mr Goodbody said: “I used to use it quite a lot, but for the past 20 to 25 years I have hardly used it. It’s just lying there in the loft.”

The retired lorry driver, and painter and decorator, said he was too busy helping friends and family to decorate their homes to go fishing.

He added: “I thought of selling it, but I can’t be bothered. All my kids have got their own gear now.”

Mr Churchman, who did not believe the offer when the Post first told him, said: “There is a god out there. It’s made me cry – it’s something. I’m really pleased.”

The men met at Mr Churchman’s home in Bentry Road, when umbrellas, fishing rods, boxes and holdalls were handed over.

Mr Churchman said: “He is a nice fellow. I thanked him very much. It was very good of him to do that.”

But it turned out that apart from fishing the men had another common thread in their lives.

Mr Churchman added: “He knows some of my cousins. He seemed familiar.”

The fishing enthusiast is relieved that he won’t have to start building up his equipment from scratch, which would not only have taken a lot of time but cost him a small fortune.

Instead, he is looking forward to the spring when he will be able to go fishing again.

Mr Churchman gave Mr Goodbody a bottle of Scotch Whisky to thank him, and said they would try to keep in touch.