A family turned detective and tracked down a birdbath stolen from their garden at a car boot sale.

The Turner family's work means some ornaments taken from neighbours in Birtsmor-ton will also be returned.

On Sunday morning, Robin Turner and his sisters Josie and Jasmine decided to act immediately on the theft of a bird bath and flower trough.

They decided to go to car boot sales in Worcester, Ross-on-Wye and Gloucester to look for the ornaments.

"We were like the Birtsmor-ton flying squad," said Robin.

"We went because we were very cross someone had pinched them.

"We'd had them a long time and just thought it wasn't right for anyone to pinch someone else's property."

Looking around a Glouc-ester car boot sale, Robin and his girlfriend Rose Reynolds saw the birdbath and purchased it back. They found a police officer and reported it and an arrest was made.

Ornaments taken from neighbours, Mary Kitchin and Valerie Dawe, were recovered at the sale.

At the sale, by coincidence, Mary Kitchin saw a little girl statue and thought it looked like the one in her garden. She only realised it had been stolen when Jasmine told her what happened.

Mrs Dawe said she was pleased she got her stone owl back and was full of praise for her quick-thinking neighbours.

She said: "We are helpful neighbours around here. It's a country community, like the hunting community, and we all look out for each other."

However, an 18th Century sundial, given to her by her late husband Gerald, and a saddlestone are still missing.

The Turners are also hoping their flower trough will be returned and are appealing for anyone who has seen it to contact police.

PC Karl Lacey, of Malvern Police, is trying to trace owners of other ornaments recovered at the car boot sale.

A stone squirrel, two stone eagles, a pair of stone urns, a metal bird and a double stone cherub holding a cup are all being held at Malvern Police Station. The owners or anyone who has been offered any of the stolen goods can call PC Lacey on 08457 444888.