A CANCER patient and keen angler has appealed for thieves to return his stolen fishing equipment.

Ian Caldwell has been devastated by the theft of his gear from the boot of his car in Robin Close, Highfield, Farnworth.

Mr Caldwell, aged 33, said: "I love fishing, it takes my mind off things with all the treatment I'm having.

"But now I can't go because someone's stolen all my equipment."

The tackle was stolen by thieves who broke into the boot of his Vauxhall Cavalier last week.

Thieves stole two Daiwa bite alarms, a Shimano reel bait runner, fishing nets, Nickol binoculars, an Olympus camera, chair and a Blacks rucksack.

A fishing permit for Mr Caldwell, who is a member of Bolton Anglers Club, was also stolen.

Mr Caldwell added: "I put the gear in the car overnight to make an early start and not disturb my wife. The only thing still in the house were my two rods."

He is currently undergoing a programme of radiotherapy at Christie Hospital to fight stomach cancer. He has successfully beaten two other outbreaks of cancer in 1988 and 1990.

Anyone with information about the fishing equipment is asked to call Farnworth police on 0161 872 5050.

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