Scout leaders have recovered £10,000 worth of stolen camping equipment after spotting the items for sale on eBay.

Ilford Recorder: St Gabriel's Church in Wanstead, where the Scouts meetSt Gabriel's Church in Wanstead, where the Scouts meet (Image: Archant)

Volunteers from the 21st Epping Forest South Scouting Group discovered their trailer containing tents, a marquee, chairs and tables had been taken from the car park at St Gabriel’s Church, in Aldersbrook Road, Wanstead, on Friday.

After reporting the theft to police, Scout leader William Flaherty searched for the stolen items online and discovered some of the canvas tents on the auction website.

He traced them to Romford based camping shop, PJ Camping, on Tuesday morning.

Mr Flaherty said: “We told them the equipment was actually stolen. They were shocked and gave it back to us straight away.

“They also contacted the man who had donated the tents to the shop after finding them inside the trailer he claimed to have bought in good faith from somebody else.”

The trailer then appeared in the car park a few hours later, but some items, including gas burners, were still missing.

Bob Bradford, 68, the group Scout leader, said: “We were elated and particularly pleased for the children.

“We have got nearly all of our gear back and can’t be more pleased with that.”

Mr Bradford added: “We have had so many messages of support from people who know us locally. We were absolutely astonished that we managed to get it all back within four days.”

The Recorder has put in an enquiry to Redbridge police.