Anglers rally round after fishing tackle shop ransacked in burglary

Lakeside Tackle Shop, at Aston Springs Fishery, was raided last Wednesday night by burglars who took everything they could carry.

The thieves even took frozen food from the cafe next door.

Shopkeeper Kevin Calbert (57) said: “I’ve put lots and lots of hours into this shop. Then someone does something like this — it’s disgraceful.”

When Kevin’s son Oliver put pictures of the raid on Facebook, the post was shared more than 15,000 times and commented on more than 700 times.

Now, kind fishermen have intervened to help keep Kevin’s shop open, donating old kit with which to stock it.

“When I saw the response I said: ‘Bloody hell.’ I don’t even go on Facebook,” said Kevin.

“People have always met here to sell second-hand stuff and swap things,” he added.

“Now people are bringing me old gear to help keep me on my feet. That’s what the people here are like — they’re very friendly.”