A TEAM of rugby-loving youngsters have been left relieved after their stolen kit was found.

The Bury Times reported yesterday that Bury RUFC had issued an urgent appeal for the return of their under-eights team kit after it was stolen from the car of one of the club's coaches.

Around 10 playing shirts used by the squad were taken from the car while it was parked in Bournville Drive, Starling, on Thursday night.

However, the kit has now been returned after one concerned resident who had seen the appeal on Facebook spotted a black kit bag dumped near The Barracks, in Bolton Road, on Friday night.

The club have thanked the hundreds of supporters who shared the appeal and the eagle-eyed man who discovered the bag.

Nicola Wray, the club's child safeguarding officer, said: "The man wouldn't accept anything from us, so we plan to get the lads from the team to make him a thank you card for finding it. 

"This just shows the power of social media and the community spirit of people living in Bury. We are really pleased.

"I have no doubt that if we hadn't found it this weekend then we wouldn't have got it back at all."