An angler who claims he had his tackle pinched during a night on the Thames has warned his fellow fishermen to be vigilant around their gear.

Lee Stanley, 27, was fishing for pike in Thames Ditton on Sunday when he fell asleep. Upon waking he found his equipment—a rod, reel, landing net and rod bag—were missing.

Surrey Police has confirmed it is investigating.

Mr Stanley, a builder from New Malden, said: "I'm so upset. It's the first time I've fished the Thames in ages, and it's happened to me."

According to the internet, he said, anglers should "be setting trip wires around your tent, linked up to your bite alarms, or trying to stuff as much as possible into your bivvy".

He normally fishes in lakes like Stew Pond, near Epsom, he added.

A police spokeswoman said: "Surrey Police is investigating following the theft of fishing equipment from a riverbank in Thames Ditton in the early hours on Sunday, October 9.

"The victim was fishing on the riverbank near Aragon Avenue and had gone to sleep between 1am and 4.30am, leaving his equipment on the riverbank.

"When he woke up, the equipment had disappeared.

"Police are carrying out a number of enquiries and would like to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time of the offence, or who has any other information."

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting 45160087947, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.