A COMPUTER stolen from the local headquarters of the RSPCA has been returned — following an emotive plea by volunteers in The Bolton News.

Thieves targeted the Bolton branch of the charity last week and took two computers containing details about hundreds of rescued pets.

The incident left charity staff furious, but, on Thursday, they received a phone call to say the computer had been left by the back gate of the building in St George’s Road, Bolton.

Staff went to investigate and discovered the machine.

A notes was attached, signed by someone who said he had bought the computer as a Christmas present for his son and called themselves a “good samaritan.”

Rachel Millington, a welfare adviser for the charity, said: “We were really upset when we discovered the break-in and could not believe that someone would stoop so low as to steal from a charity.

“Unfortunately, none of the information was backed up and it had pictures and data about literally hundreds of animals.

“We were surprised when we got the phone call and could not believe our eyes when we saw it had been left at the gate in a plastic bag.

“We are so pleased that it has been returned and would just appeal to anyone who knows the whereabouts of the other computer to get in touch.”

The note attached to the computer read: “To whom it may concern, I bought this for my son as a Christmas present from a tall thin lad with blond hair and when I took it home and plugged it in I saw all the RSPCA details.

“I saw the appeal in the paper and did not want anything to do with stolen goods.”

The note has been given to the police who are examining it for finger prints as part of their investigation.