PetersfieldÕs great bunting mystery has been solved Ð but the police and a town councillor have been implicated in its disappearance.
The bunting, loaned out free of charge by town jeweller Chris Pickett, went missing last summer.
And following appeals for information by Mr Pickett, the bunting has been found safe and well Ð in the cells at Petersfield Police station.
And the plot thickens, as The Herald can reveal that a town councillor played a major part in its disappearance.
Councillor Paul Malloy was chairman of PetersfieldÕs jubilee committee last summer and borrowed the bunting for the festivities. He passed the decorations to Insp Steve Sargent of Petersfield Police who used them for the jubilee SNAP disco.
Mr Malloy told The Herald this week: ÒIt now beholds me to confess my part in the perpetration of another social gaffe Ð the lost Picketts and Pursers bunting. Yes it was me.Ó
He confirmed that the bunting had been borrowed for the jubilee celebrations and added: ÒWe were hugely grateful for them during the jubilee and afterwards Insp Sargent kindly offered to keep them in protective custody in cells at the police station for use by town organisations.Ó
Mr MalloyÕs statement was corroborated by Insp Sargent.
He said: ÒWe have had storage space at the police station ever since our cells were condemned as being unsafe.Ó
Insp Sargent said the bunting would be released with a small charge (to charity) to anyone who wanted to use it.
Anyone wishing to hire the bunting can contact Petersfield Police on 0845 045 45 45.