A missing sheep is baaa-ck in the fold – after a tongue-in-cheek appeal in the Examiner.

A hardboard sheep named Mint Sauce, used to raise money for a cancer charity, was stolen from the back of a car after an event in Huddersfield.

The sheep was one of a flock of six used for sheep racing by the Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust.

Two of the sheep, Mint Sauce and Rambo, were taken after the Leprechaun Sheep Race Night, an event held in memory of Huddersfield teacher Colin Murray, staged at Huddersfield Irish Centre.

Rambo was found up the road but Mint Sauce was nowhere to be found.

The club offered a reward of a leg of lamb and the Examiner publicised the appeal.

Some thought the story was a publicity stunt or a joke but the loss of Mint Sauce meant the race nights had to be suspended.

The charity’s manager Pam Thornes was delighted when a woman rang to say her family had found Mint Sauce and she was safe and well.

Pam said the woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, told them a member of her family had found Mint Sauce on the roadside not far from Greenhead Park and had taken her home.

When the woman read the Examiner’s story she got in touch and Mint Sauce has rejoined Rambo, Baabara, Lamb Chop, Shorn and Dolly.

Pam said: “It’s been a bit of fun but we are just delighted to have her back. She’s a little grumpy but otherwise none the worse for the experience. Let the races begin!

“We’ve had a lot of reaction on social media from people who thought it was a publicity stunt, someone claiming to be holding her to ransom and someone even saying he had eaten her!

“It’s all in good fun and we are now looking for someone to stage the first race night with Mint Sauce back in the fold.”

The woman and her family have claimed the reward.