A SCARECROW made to publicise a fundraising cycle ride has been recovered after being stolen.

Businessman Keith Davis, 62, of Church End, Bushley, put the scarecrow outside his house to publicise his forthcoming London to Paris ride to raise money for the Royal British Legion.

The scarecrow is 6ft tall and dressed as the traditional French onion seller, complete with striped jumper and beret. It was sitting on a bike at the entrance to Mr Davis's house and had become known to locals as Jacques Straw, when it disappeared on Sunday, June 9.

After Mr Davis made an appeal on local radio for its return, police were tipped off about a similar scarecrow seen in the Upton area. Mr Davis identified it as Jacques and it was restored to its proper place.

Keith and his sons Alexander and Quintin, both in their 20s, will be doing the ride in September. They hope to raise £4,500.

"We've got various relatives who were involved in different wars, so we know what a good job the Royal British Legion does," said Mr Davis, managing director of Upton-based Midland Communications.

Anyone wanting to help their cause should visit www.bmycharity.com/ V2/boysonbikes.