The tale of a fisherman statue stolen from outside a chip shop has taken another twist.

Police appealed for help in tracking down the yellow, life size statue after it was stolen from outside The Yellow Fisherman chip shop in Hothfield on Saturday, February 21.

After featuring the story in the Kentish Express, PC Chris Miller received several anonymous phone calls, one which led him to a bin shed where he found - what he presumed to be - the missing fisherman. It was damaged and the hand that held the fish was missing.

Thinking he had solved the case, PC Miller, took the armless and fishless fisherman to be re-united with its owner - only to discover it was the wrong statue!

This one had gone missing two years ago after the chip shop owner accepted an offer to get the damaged statue fixed, paid £40, but never heard from the people - or saw the fisherman - again. Until now.

PC Miller said since he has been working on the case he has started to notice how many fish and chip shops have a fisherman statue.

He is continuing to try and track down the missing statue which was taken from outside the Maidstone Road business between 2pm and 10pm on Saturday, February 21.

Around that time local teenagers had seen it being taken away in the back of a white lorry.

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Chris Miller on 07980 770577 or South Kent Police on 01303 289180.