A REFUSE collector who had his treasured photography equipment stolen from his van is offering a cash reward in a bid to get it back.

Neil Cooper, of Harrison Road, Chorley, left £1,000 worth of tackle hidden in the back of his van overnight on Saturday (August 11). When he got up the next morning it was gone.

He said: "I have spent 10 years building up this equipment and I am by no means rich. It is worth very little to them but it meant so much to me.

"What really upsets me is that the thieves may sell it for, say £30, for drugs -- over the years I have spent about £1,000 on this equipment and there are films containing photographs of my girlfriend on holiday and these are very special to me."

Neil and his partner Christine Latham had just come back from Pembrokeshire where they had been taking pictures of wildlife.

Christine was in tears when she said: "This equipment was very special to Neil. He loves his hobby and had paid a lot for lenses to take close up shots of butterflies."

The van, a Renault Traffic, was alarmed but it failed to go off. Neil added: "Unfortunately the alarm did not go off because I had put curtains up in the van which obscured the detectors. The worst thing is I am not insured.

"I am willing to offer a cash reward to anyone who can return the goods to me in the hope that if the thieves really need money then they might return what they have stolen."

Neil even slept in the van following the theft to see if the thieves would come back, but he said he didn't get any sleep because of all the car alarms going off.

Sergeant Paddy O'Neil, of Chorley Police, said: "There have been a number of high value thefts from vehicles within the last few days within the Chorley area.

"It is important to remind people to keep belongings secure -- either take them in the house or cover them well if they must be kept in vehicles."

He added: "If you see anyone trying to sell camera equipment, ring Chorley Police Station -- this man is obviously gutted and the thieves should not get away with it."