'KIDNAPPED shop dummy Spud Murphy has been returned home in time for St Patrick's Day - with a mysterious note attached.
Owner Tony McGregor, aged 68, of Holbrooks Lane, Holbrooks, Coventry made a desperate appeal to get Spud back after someone took him from his empty shop unit downstairs on Tuesday, March 6.
Spud was dressed in his Irish finery ready for St Patrick's Day.
After Tony's appeal in the Telegraph earlier this week he received a mysterious phone call telling him that Spud Murphy was under the arches of the railway bridge in Holbrooks Lane - and would be there for 15 minutes.
When he got there he found Spud safe and sound - with a note attached.
In it, whoever took the dummy admitted they had dressed him up as a mascot for the England versus France rugby match on Sunday, which England won 26 points to 18.
The note read: "Seeing as you were so upset Tony we only borrowed Spud as a lucky mascot against France so you can now have him back - sorry for the upset.
"P.S. Spud looks brilliant in an England outfit."
The Irishman, who came over to Coventry with his family when he was just 15 years old, admitted he thought Spud was gone forever.
But now the two have been reunited it means he will be able to go out to the Irish bars as planned for St Patrick's Day tomorrow.
Tony said: "I actually thought that he was gone and I wouldn't get him back.
"I was surprised when someone called but I'm just glad I got him back."