Cycling UK’s CEO has been reunited with his stolen bike thanks to a good Samaritan, Kent Online and social media.

The Brompton – worth around £1,000 – was spotted in an alleyway near Dartford station.

Paul Tuohy was on a service from London to Dartford when his bike was taken at around 7.15pm on Wednesday.

He believes it was taken while he chatted with another passenger for about 20 minutes.

An appeal to find the bike was issued and posted on Kent Online.

Jason, who doesn’t want his full name revealed, saw the bike near an underpass and after checking Twitter and seeing the story realised he knew who it belonged to.

The office worker said: “I came back late from London Bridge and saw the bike near an underpass. Nine times out of ten I would have left it, but I thought it was a bit odd so I picked it up and carried it home.

“It was on my way to work when I was checking Twitter, and I saw the story on Kentonline and realised it was the bike Paul had had stolen. I Tweeted Paul, and then I phoned the office.”

Mr Tuohy was very grateful with this display of Christmas spirit.

He said: “I was absolutely stunned. It’s amazing in this day and age that someone would find a Brompton bike and make the effort to return it to its owner.

“For Jason to take the time and trouble to find me, and bring it back is incredible. It shows some real Christmas spirit at this time of year.

“I’ve had the bike since I started at Cycling UK, and in that time I’ve grown quite a strong attachment to it. We’ve been through a lot together, and when I thought I’d lost it, I was pretty down. I’m so grateful to Jason.”

More than 327,000 bicycles are stolen every year in England and Wales.