THE power of social media, and a close community, helped to get a stolen electric bike back to a popular grandad from East Tilbury.

Stan Wall, 87, is well known in the borough for his fundraising and taking part in the Thurrock Cycle Marathon for many years.

He raises money for charities such as Help for Heroes and St Luke’s Hospice.

Mr Wall was targeted after riding his £700 electric cycle to the One Stop Store, in Defoe Parade, Chadwell St Mary, on Tuesday, December 16. When he came out of the store, it had been stolen.

It was then his grandson, Rob Lay, put an appeal out on Facebook and Twitter, with a picture of the bike, asking people to keep an eye out for it and pleading for its return.

Just 24 hours – and thousands of views and shares on Facebook – later, the bike was returned to Rob.

He said: “I want to say thank you to everyone who shared and commented on my post. What a great community we have in the Chadwell St Mary Facebook group.

“They were even talking about raising money to buy him a new bike.”

A member of one of the Facebook groups spotted the bike in the village the next day propped against a wall after recognising it from going online.

Mr Lay added: “Someone who had seen the post got the bike and dropped it off to me.

“It was missing a basket and had a flat back tyre, but apart from that it was OK.

“Stan would also like to say thank you and couldn’t believe all the help and support he got from the Thurrock community."