A newly-widowed man has been reunited with one of his model helicopters after they were stolen from his garage - but two are still missing.

Thieves took scale replicas of a Red Bull BO105, a Tomahawk and a JR500 belonging to the 74-year-old man.

But on Saturday, an officer found one of the model helicopters, the JR500, discarded in a bush in an alleyway close to the property.

The theft from a garage Cedar Avenue, Gravesend, took place between Monday and Friday last week. Damage was also caused to the garage door.

Sgt Alan Willett of Kent Police said: "I’m pleased that an officer has been able to recover one of these helicopters, but two of the replicas are still outstanding so I would encourage everyone to keep an eye out and especially check their gardens and alleyways in case the suspect has discarded the other two which were stolen.

“The owner of these helicopters is a 74-year-old man who has been building and flying such models since the 1970s, and whose wife sadly passed away earlier this month.

“He makes the replicas from scratch and is devastated at what has happened so we would very much like to be able to reunite him with his stolen items.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the appeal line on 01474 366149 quoting reference XY/7374/17 or call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.