THE beloved bronze pig statue from Calne which commemorates the Harris Bacon company has been found.

The statue, which was stolen some time overnight on Sunday from its pride of place on Phelps Parade has been found thanks to a tip-off from a member of the public.

Officers have thanked a reclamation yard owner in Gloucestershire who quickly phoned the police when he watched a television news appeal about the theft and recognised that it was the statue sold onto him earlier in the week.

DC Jo Chesshire, from the Chippenham Community Tasking Team, said she hoped the people of Calne would be pleased to see the pigs back in their rightful home shortly.

She said: "I know people in the area were sad to hear of this theft and I'm pleased to be able to report that the statue has been recovered and will be handed back to Calne Town Council.

"This incident proves the importance of the media in helping publicise appeals. In this particular case the stolen item had been quickly sold on to a reclamation yard in Gloucestershire, where the owner had no knowledge of where it had come from.

"However, he soon saw the appeal on the local news, recognised the statue and phoned the town council and the police to let us know."

Despite some damage to the base of the statue, the pigs are still intact and will be returned to Calne Town Council tomorrow (Friday, October 6).

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the theft and other offences and is currently being questioned in police custody.