Stolen punt found abandoned in Shrewsbury undergrowth

The 10-year-old boat, was made for an annual community regatta which takes place in Betton Strange near Shrewsbury each summer and was nabbed from an outbuilding on an isolated farm.

The elderly maker of the boat was devastated to hear that the boat, which is one of a pair, had been stolen.

But following an article in the Shropshire Star last week, the punt, called The Betton Belle, was found by a dog walker dumped in long grass approximately two miles from where it was last seen.

Local builder Bryan Jones, who reported the theft after going to check on the boats which were in dry storage, said: "It was fantastic news to hear that the boat had been found. I couldn't believe it when I saw it was gone.

"It seems that whoever took it, carried it off and perhaps then realised it was heavier than they thought. It looks like it was dumped in the grass between Betton Strange and Sutton Farm but whether that happened on the day it was stolen or after the article appeared in the paper we don't know.

"A man who was walking his dog had read about the Betton Belle in the paper and recognised the name on the side of the boat.

"It is thanks to the Shropshire Star that we have got it back and the man who made it, who is not very well at the moment, is delighted. He thought it was gone for good.

"The dog walker saw the article in the paper which had my name in it and he called me to let me know where it was. I rushed out straightaway to get it and it is now back in the shed where it should be."

The annual Betton Strange Regatta is an annual occurrence staged each August and attracts competitors from across the town.

The boats, which are made of teak, are worth approximately £500.