THE leaders of a Monmouth project to restore the town's historic Shire Hall are rejoicing over the recovery of a two-and-a-half foot stick!

The gilded oak artefact represented a military scroll or baton and it was stolen from the hand of a 300-year-old statue of Henry V outside the building on May 17.

It was tracked down and an individual is now helping police with inquiries over how it came into their possession.

Monmouthshire County Council has been renovating Shire Hall with help from lottery funding. 

Project manager Keith Davies, said: "We are so excited and relieved to have the scroll back and we send our thanks to the police and the people in Monmouth who helped to get it back.

"Last week the police made enquiries with local people that they thought could have been involved and they stressed that the scroll should just be handed back.

"Then while holding a community policing surgery in Monmouth, a young person turned up with the scroll asking if there was a reward for its safe return. 

"The police confirmed there was no reward and handed the scroll back to the council's Monmouth One Stop Shop.

"The gold leaf to the scroll has been damaged so the contractor has to carry out the gold leaf application again at an estimated cost of £300, plus the cost of access up to the Henry statue.

"The police are making further enquiries at this time, but we are just happy that the scroll is back."