A HAPPY ending is in sight for a dad who lost his Christmas presents, thanks to a plea in the Journal.

It was a case of mistaken identity when a man visiting Evesham by coach picked up the wrong rucksack.

Father of three Geoff Dover from Manchester had been travelling to Cheltenham through Evesham on the National Express coach at around 4.10pm on Saturday, December 18 when 20-year-old Marco Raimundo got off to see his mother, picking up Mr Dover's bag by mistake.

Mr Dover's rucksack contained Christmas presents for his three daughters but instead when he reached his destination and opened Mr Raimundo's bag in mistake for his own, it was full of clothes and a personal stereo.

Mr Dover put a plea in the Journal for the return of his bag, and as soon as Mrs Raimundo read the story she was delighted, because she had been trying to local the owner through the bus company without success.

Mrs Raimundo said: "My son was on the bus travelling from Carlisle via Birmingham to Evesham. He arrived home on the Saturday but he did not start unpacking all his bags until the Monday - that's when he realised what had happened. He was upset because he'd got the bag with the man's presents in and it was almost Christmas and he knew there was somebody missing out on Christmas presents. We were relieved to see the story in The Journal."

Mr Dover said: "I'm absolutely delighted that the presents have been found - I'd given up. The family have been smashing, and I'm very pleased with them for getting in contact about the presents - they're an honest family."

Mr Dover said he plans to send Mr Raimundo's rucksack to his daughter in Cheltenham this weekend, who will then meet up with the Raimundo family to swap bags.