HE is strumming to his heart's content once again.

A Daily Echo reader has come to the rescue of banjo player Arthur Banks, whose beloved instrument was stolen from his Netley retirement home.

The 99-year-old's banjo was stolen from the common room at his sheltered accommodation, where he played regularly to entertain other residents.

Arthur had played the same banjo for 85 years.

Pete Nolan read of Arthur's plight in the Echo and decided to donate his banjo that had been gathering dust under the stairs to him.

Pete, a lecturer at Eastleigh College, said: "I've had the banjo a few years but I just don't play it. I had banjo lessons when I was younger, but I bought this one because I liked the look of it.

"It's awful that someone could steal somebody's banjo - what's the use of it to someone who can't even play it? That's how I felt too - what's the use in me keeping a banjo locked up under the stairs when I can't even play it?"

Delighted Arthur used to play with bands across London before moving to the south when he joined the Royal Navy.

He is looking forward to tuning his new banjo and getting back to what he loves doing.

He said: "I am over the moon. Why Pete didn't play it, I don't know.

"It's very similar to my banjo, just a lot lighter and nice and shiny and polished."

Arthur, who lost his wife Kitty ten years ago, said that he will be keeping a closer eye on his new banjo and not storing it in the common room as he had his old instrument for 25 years.

Arthur plans to send a donation to a heart charity to mark his gratitude, as Pete would not accept any payment.