R2-D2 bin found – in a garden not far away

A bin styled on the famous Star Wars robot R2-D2 has made its way back home to the arts centre foyer thanks to people power and Facebook.

Police made inquiries into the disappearance off the decorated silver swing-bin from the auditorium entranceway on Friday evening.

CCTV recordings showed it being removed by a “mid to late teen male suspect described as being of slim build, short at sides though with floppy-fringe brown hair, wearing dark rimmed specs, an open shirt with white t-shirt underneath, jeans and trainers”.

Following a flurry of social media activity, the bin was spotted lying at the bottom of a garden “not too far away”, according to Mareel marketing manager Lauren Doughton. The bin was finally relocated to Mareel on Monday night “little the worse for wear”.

A light sabre wielding Darth Vader style Santa appeared at the venue that same evening to discourage any future would-be kidnappers of the famous ‘droid.