BURGLARS are blackmailing angler Trevor Gunning for the safe return of a 'priceless' gift left to him by his late friend and mentor, who died of cancer four years ago.

Three men were caught on CCTV on Sunday evening smashing their way into Trevor's shop, Cotswold Angling, before making off with a haul of cash and thousands of pounds worth of rods and reels.

But only one item had any real value to 60-year-old Trevor; the reel used by former world record holder Denis Froud, bequeathed to him on his death bed.

Trevor had promised his buddy he would bring the kit with him any time he went fishing, and knowing the sentimental value, the thieves have since phoned him demanding £500 to have the tackle returned.

Police have been contacted and Trevor has said he has to think of his family rather than take a risk with his blackmailers.

"In general, they took somewhere in the region of 40 to 50 reels, but only one that has got any value to me," he said. "We retail some of them at around £850 each, so we are looking at between £10,000 and £15,000 in total.

"The one that meant anything to me was the Shimano Tiagra 50, which was a long range special with the initials LRS. That belonged to my best mate and buddy Denis Froud, who was an ex-world champion angler and multiple world record holder.

"We fished together around the world for 20 odd years, and he had been England team captain when I was selected for the first time. This was his reel.

"He died from cancer just over four years ago. When he was lying on his death bed a couple of days before he died, he said he would give me his fishing tackle. There was one particular rod and reel he used all the time, and that was part of what he gave me. I promised him every time I went out fishing he would be with me."

Trevor added since his friend's death he has not had the inclination to take to the waters again, but he would like the reel back.

"There was no price tag on it, it wasn't for sale," he said.

"They phoned me yesterday and offered for me to buy it back for £500. What happened to the shop is what it is, and is not something that significantly affects me as a person or as a business, but that reel did significantly affect me as a person.

"That situation throws up a lot of possibilities. Do you turn up only for them to arrive armed and tooled up?"

CCTV images from around the shop at Kembrey Park have captured the group's movements before targeting the premises.

"We know when they arrived on site and when they left," said Trevor. "We know how they arrived and how they left, and one of the cars that was used.

"We know they drove a silver or light blue Peugeot 306, and arrived at Kembrey Park around 8.40pm. They had parked up the top of Aspen Close, which is where we are.

"They had come for us without a doubt. They already knew exactly what they wanted. It wasn't at random. There were three of them dressed in hoodies and jeans, with bobble hats or beanies.

"One of them was walking with a distinct limp. They did several reccies and brought round some concrete blocks, leaving them round the front. Then at 9.09pm they sent one guy out as a lookout and reversed back, smashing the glass windows on the door, and came in through the front door."

The biggest worry for dad-of two Trevor is that the reel may never be returned.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the Kembrey Park incident last Sunday via the non emergency number 101.

A spokesman said: "Suspects have broken in and taken thousands of pounds worth of fishing reels, rods, bite alarms, and hundreds of pounds of cash from the till.

"We were alerted by the alarm activated just after 9pm."