A REALITY TV star who had his bike stolen has been given a replacement by a generous local business.

Carl Owen, who found fame on BBC3 show Invasion of the Job Snatchers, had his £300 black Giant Escape bike stolen from Bargates, Christchurch, on May 18 while he was on a date on the beach.

The theft left him reliant on public transport, and his feet, to get around the town and to work at F.A. Lambe and Sons butchers in Marlow Drive, the job he secured during the series after impressing owner Robin Lambe.

However, after reading about Carl’s plight in the Daily Echo and being impressed with him on TV, Alan and Gill Butler of On Yer Bike in Charminster have donated a replacement – a Python Quantum.

“It is just fantastic, I feel very spoiled and humbled by it all,” said Carl, who picked up the bike at the shop yesterday.

“It just goes to show that one person can’t spoil a good community.”

Carl, originally from Warrington, found work through the popular series after a troubled past. He said he was devastated by the loss of his bike, which had been secured with a chain outside Coral bookmakers.

“The bike was a lifeline for me, I don’t drive and so I needed it to explore this new area I am living in,” he said.

“This is a massive gesture by Alan and Gill and I am very grateful. It is a cracking bike.”

Mrs Butler said she and her husband, who have been based in Charminster Road for 25 years, felt Carl deserved some help for all his hard work.

“We watched the programme and we really admired all the effort he put in,” she said.

“We felt sorry for him when we read about his bike being stolen, after all the effort he put into his job in his new community.

“But he is a lovely guy and we are pleased to be able to help him out.”