A pensioner from Australia sparked an online campaign to find him a friend this week, after he posted a tear-jerking advert on Gumtree seeking someone to go fishing with him.

Ray Johnstone, a widower from Lewiston in South Australia, wrote in the ad that he was looking for a fishing mate as his "previous fishing mate is now deceased."

Appealing for a fishing enthusiast "in a similar position to myself," Ray wrote: "I am a land-based fisherman. I have all the gear for all types of fish that is required for land-based fishing.

"I am willing to share all costs, e.g. petrol, bait, and should you happen to own a boat [am] willing to pay all ramp fees, but happy if you are also a land-based fisherman."

He rounded off the ad with the suggestion that anyone interested could contact him to "arrange a meeting to see if we could get along with each other."

A number of people, touched by Ray's advert, took to Twitter offering their help to find him a companion with the hashtag #IllFishWithRay: