Snooker ace Joe Johnson today got a lucky break after an appeal for footage of his World Championship win brought offers of help.

The former champion told the Telegraph & Argus how he was left devastated after his children accidentally taped over his only copy of the 1986 final in which he beat Steve Davis to claim the title.

But within hours of the T&A hitting the streets today, we received calls from two very different sources, both able to supply Joe with a replacement tape.

First, BBC Look North stepped in, contacting its sport library in London to trace the footage and the BBC offered to have the best-of-35 frame match which Joe won 18-12 put on a DVD for him. Manager of the BBC Sport Library Steve Whitehead said: "We are absolutely delighted to be able to help Joe and hope he has many hours of enjoyment watching it."

Look North presenters Christa Ackroyd and Harry Gration will present the DVD to the star tomorrow night.

Then, right on cue, a man who played alongside Joe 30 years ago came forward. Bernard Thorpe, of Holme Wood, was captain of Dudley Hill Social Club snooker team in the 1970s.

He said: "I played in the team with Joe, and we were friends, but I haven't seen him for years. He's a brilliant player. I taped the match and had it on Betamax.

"I worked as a caretaker at City Hall and the boilerman put it on VHS for me. It is a really good picture, but there's the sound of the boiler in the background," he laughed.

Joe was delighted with both offers. "I can't believe it. I haven't seen the match for 21 years - not since I won it - and now I can watch it again.

"My wife's parents recorded it for us, and we had the tape on top of the video player for years, but time went by and when we actually got around to sitting down to watch it, it had gone."

As Joe explained, his youngest children had taped over the match, recording in its place He-Man Master of the Universe. Joe said he was going to celebrate by sitting down with his wife Terryll, his family, and business partner and best pal Dave Shipley.

He added: "It will bring back memories. I don't play that well now - my eyesight has gone. I still pot balls but not to the same standard."

The father-of-seven was delighted with the offer from 73-year-old Bernard. "He got me into the club team even though I was underage. There was a bit of a fuss at the time, but eventually it was okay. I only got in because of him."

Joe rang Bernard and the pair had a chat about old times. "We had a good natter, it was lovely to hear from him," said Bernard.