A DISTRAUGHT angler said he might give up the hobby after raiders snatched his treasured childhood fishing rod during an overnight raid, in which £2,500 worth of equipment was stolen.

Paul Fletcher, 25, said he might never return to the riverbanks as he would not be able to find a rod to replace the one given him by his father when he was 10.

Thieves broke into a shed by Mr Fletcher's Kidderminster flat overnight on Sunday and stole the rod as part of the £2,500 fishing equipment haul.

The Dunclent Crescent resident - who lives with his partner and two children - said: "I don't know whether I will fish again, to be honest, it has ruined it. I will never be able to get the same enjoyment out of another rod. It sounds funny but I will never get another.

"Since I was given the rod I have tried to replace it but never found one as good. I have caught all the big fish with that one, it is irreplaceable. I can replace the other equipment but that is of sentimental value."

Thieves broke the lock on the shed and took the equipment between 10.30pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday.

A spokeswoman for Kidderminster police said anyone with information about the theft should contact the public service desk on 08457 444 888.