STAFF at a Devizes shop were celebrating this week after their much loved charity box in the shape of Basil Brush was returned weeks after it was taken from outside the store.

Edward Kirk owner of Scholars schoolwear shop in the Little Brittox had just days earlier made one last plea for the 3ft high figure used for collecting money for the Royal National Institute For The Blind to be returned.

On Monday new staff member Karen Cox was surprised when a man came into the shop and told her he knew where Basil had been dumped. She said: "It was my first day working here but I knew all about Basil. He said the box was in St Mary's churchyard. He went off but then returned with Basil a bit later."

Fellow worker Cara Price, 17, who had mounted a social media campaign and poster display in the shop window in a bid to get Basil back was delighted. She said: "I am so glad we have got him back."

Basil was taken from outside the shop during opening hours on January 13. A similar figure which is normally in the Warminster branch of the shop had been leant to Devizes but Mr Kirk had been about to send it back to the west Wiltshire town as staff were worried about its safety.

A third Basil was stolen from outside the Trowbridge Scholars about 20 years ago.

Mr Kirk thanked the man for finding the Devizes Basil and gave him a small reward.