Friendly rivalry between two Porthleven fish and chip shop owners has been temporarily set aside after the pair agreed to chip in together and form a reward in a bid to hook a thief.

Roland Lowery, from Roland's Happy Plaice in Shute Lane, and Andy Wallis, from the Chip Inn in Fore Street, have agreed to donate £50 each to form a £100 reward for anyone who can provide information that leads to the thief being caught.

The pair joined together after the delivery driver of a lorry that serves both shops had his rucksack containing the £400 takings stolen.

The lorry was parked in Fore Street at around 2pm last Thursday (September 13) when the driver went inside the Chip Inn.

However, he left the window of the lorry open a fraction and it is thought that while the driver was in the shop someone must have put their hand through the window and taken the rucksack out.

It was not until the driver had got back in the lorry and driven the short distance to Roland's Happy Plaice that he discovered the rucksack was missing.

The theft was reported to the police but so far no one has come forward and in a bid to catch the thief the two shop owners have agreed to work together.

Mr Lowery said: "Everyone I've spoken to has said things like that don't happen in Porthleven. Everyone was shocked. If somebody knows about it or has a little bit of information about it they need to come forward."

Information can be passed to Mr Lowery on 01326 562723 or Mr Wallis on 01326 573758, or by popping into see them at the shops. The police can be contacted on 08452 777444.