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Martin Little feared he would never see his beloved bicycle again after it was stolen in Edinburgh on Friday morning.

He had stopped for a quick coffee in Tollcross and when he emerged from the shop the Raleigh bike he had owned for more than a quarter of a century was gone.

Someone had unlocked it and ridden away, leaving the project manager heartbroken.

He posted a tweet with a picture of the bike, saying: "Just had my bike stolen. Unlocked, as I made a quick stop for a coffee at Tollcross. 26+ years of very regular riding, gone. Part of my soul has also left.

"If you see a purple @RaleighBikes_UK Ravine, wonky headset, broken toestrap, let me know. Gutted. Pls RT."

(Image: Martin Little)

It was retweeted hundreds of times and forunately the message got to the right person.

His friend Andrew Latham was running in the Meadows and spotted the purple bike lying abandoned in the middle of a path.

He was able to get it back to Martin that afternoon.

The bike's delighted owner said: "Thanks to the absolute legend @DrAndrewLatham who saw my post, and was running around the Meadows, and found it lying in the middle of a path. Happy beyond belief!"

Andrew said he was "glad to be of service" and joked "for the avoidance of doubt - it wasn’t me that nicked it in the first place!"

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