A round-the-world cyclist is appealing for the return of his prized bike stolen in Kingston along with all of his possessions.

Rob Lutter, 33, returned from his epic 25,000-mile trek in 2015, and has been living on his bike ever since.

But he has now been left with just the clothes on his back after a thief stole the cycle from outside the Co-Op store in King's Road.

Rob, from Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, said: "I had stopped outside Co-Op on Friday evening, at 8.20, to get some food on my way to house-sit.

"I left the bike outside but I didn't lock it, because I only went inside for a minute.

"I always lock it usually but I thought it would be okay, I never expect someone to even be able to wheel it away because it weighs 65kg.

"But I came outside and it was gone - there was no trace of it.

"I ran back inside the shop and they called the police, and we drove around looking for the person who stole it, but it was gone.

"You can see a person in a red hoodie on the CCTV but that's it, you can't tell their gender or anything.

"I've had bikes stolen before, but it's not just any bike - my entire life was on it."

Rob's globetrotting journey, from 2011 to 2015, encompassed 30 countries, including Hong Kong and Australia, and raised more than £6,000 for charity.

When he returned, he started a Kickstarter campaign to create two books about his journey, and continued to live on his bike while house-sitting for families.

But the hard drives containing his photos, along with his camera equipment, were stolen from four brown pannier bags in Friday's theft.

Rob estimates equipment worth almost £8,000 was taken from his blue Kona Rove touring bike - including three hard drives, his professional camera, Macbook, and cycling and camping gear.

He added: "The cycle was the best thing I've ever done.

"I was really overwhelmed when I got back and wasn't sure what to do, so I thought the best way to get going again was to do the books.

"I've been going between houses petsitting around the south of England, and I was just in Kingston for the weekend.

"I had nearly finished the book and now everything is gone.

"There were about 15,000 photos, plus all my stuff - things I can't ever get back, like business cards from people I've met across the world.

"The stuff was worth between £6-8,000, but I don't care about the money.

"Just to have one hard drive back would be amazing, the memories are all gone.

"That means the photo book is cancelled and the words book is on hold.

"I've got loads of stuff online but all the ones I took in the Himalayas and Australia are gone, they're probably in a bin somewhere."

Rob is maintaining a positive outlook following the theft, and says he is trying not to dwell on the incident.

He has now been left with no choice but to walk to his next house-sit in Cambridge - 65 miles.

Rob said: "Everyone's support has been incredible.

"I've had people offering to give me a computer, helping me however they can and telling people to look out for the bike.

"I've had bikes stolen before but not like this - everything is gone, right down to my passport.

"I got to the house with the clothes on my back, my phone and my leggings.

"I was devastated on Saturday, but there are too many things to sit and be depressed about.

"The person who stole it probably didn't even think about it, they just wanted money, so I'm not concerned about dwelling on whoever did it.

"Now I've got to go off to Cambridge, and I've got four days to walk there.

"I got a notepad so I'm just going to start the book again from scratch.

"There's no point being angry, I'm sure good things can come out of it."

A Met Police spokesman said: "Police were called at 20.40hrs on Friday, 10 February after a man reported his bicycle had been stolen from King's Road, Kingston.

"The victim, aged in his 30s, also reported a number of items were on the bike at the time and were also stolen.

"Officers from Kingston-upon-Thames investigate.

"No arrests. Enquiries continue."