THIEVES who stole the central panel of a memorial to pupils killed in a tragic minibus accident returned it on the day an appeal for its return was made by the Shuttle/Times and News.

The carved wooden panel, which was removed from the Senses Garden, Brinton Park, on Sunday, May 20, was discovered, sawn in half and with more than half a dozen drill holes, in a black plastic bag by a member of park maintenance staff at 7.45am on Friday. Sculptor Kathryn O'Kell surveys the damage done to the memorial plaque which was returned last week.

Chris Conner, parks development officer with the district council, said the bag, which was found by Mark Hughes in the garden, appeared to have been left the night before.

He said the plaque, which contained the words, 'time is swift,' and a carving of a swift, had been sawn in half, separating the two, and drill holes made in both halves.

He added he believed the plaque had been stolen by someone intending to keep it for themselves, who did not understand its significance.

"I'm gobsmacked we've got it back this quickly. I think it was due to publicity provided by the Shuttle. The paper came out on the Thursday and it was returned by Friday."

John Gordon, who was chairman of the district council when the 12 youngsters from Hagley RC High School died, said: "I'm pleased someone has a conscience and has returned it.

"I would like to thank the Shuttle for bringing it to the public's attention. Without the public appeal it's doubtful whether we would have got it back."

Sculptor Kathryn O'Kell, who created the memorial, said: "It's not too badly damaged. I think someone took it to have it. It's been very neatly sawn in half and a number of holes carefully made as if for mounting."

She said the pieces would have to be filled with doweling and stained and joined, leaving an "obvious scar."

She added: "I've never had to repair a piece like this before. I will try and get it repaired within the next week."

The memorial was created as the centrepiece of the garden in 1994 and dedicated to the 12 youngsters from Hagley RC High School who were killed when their minibus collided with a stationary lorry on the M40 as they travelled back from a schools prom in London.