A man has launched a celebrity-backed Twitter campaign in an attempt to identify thieves who stole his bicycle in Highbury.

James Jones, 28, was drinking in the Alwyne Castle, in St Paul’s Road, Canonbury, when two men made off with his new �500 racing bike on Saturday afternoon (July 2).

They were snapped in action, and when the photo was published on social networking site Twitter it was “re-tweeted” so many times, including by newsreader Jon Snow and radio DJ Danny Baker, that it became one of the most popular topics in the country.

Mr Jones said: “Its amazing - I have had 100s of responses ranging from ‘why did you take a picture and not chase them?’ to people offering sympathy.

“When they took it, I didn’t realise what was going on at first. I heard this commotion then I saw what was happening so I ran after them, I chased them up towards Highbury Corner.

“I got to within a few inches of the back wheel, but when he saw me he just turned around and laughed before speeding off.

“It wasn’t until I got back to the pub that I realised a photo had been taken so I posted it to twitter straight away.”

The photo got more than 100 re-tweets inside half an hour was a “trending topic” in the UK on Saturday night, the same day as the David Haye fight and the women’s final at Wimbledon.

Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow showed his support with the message: “I’m so very sorry, a beautiful bike.”

Mr Jones added: “The police told me that there is no evidence to identify the thieves. I then told them I had a photograph of the culprits but they haven’t got back to me.”

Islington Police were unavailable for comment.