JOURNALIST Maxine Gordon has been reunited with her bike after the thief turned himself in.

A day after CCTV images showing two people stealing a bike from outside The Press offices in Walmgate, York, were published in the paper, Maxine's bike has been handed in to police.

The bike, belonging to feature writer Maxine Gordon, was locked up against railings at the side of the building at about 3.30pm on Saturday. Within ten minutes, the pair had come and taken it away.

But after reading the report in the newspaper, one of the pair, a man in his 20s, returned the bike to York police. He will be quizzed by officers.

Maxine, 38, of Fulford Road, York, originally bought the bottle green Raleigh Pioneer ten years ago for £250. She said she was just glad to have it back.

She said: "I can't believe it. It was always quite a slim chance that I'd get my bike back and I think it's really, really great.

"You always think someone might have sold it on or something, but I was told by the police that this guy read the article in The Press and it tugged at his heart strings, so he turned himself in."

The CCTV footage has been handed in to the police who are investigating.

PC Michael Brocken, of York Police, said: "It's quite unusual for someone to hand themselves in. It happens from time to time, but rarely with bikes. It goes to show the massive benefits of premises fitting CCTV."