A ZANY Zebra statue missing for more than a week has been found in a river by a group of youngsters.

The Ticket to Ride sculpture on the Marwell Zoo trail was taken from its plinth in Vincent Walk, Southampton.

Police, including the marine unit, searched for the statue but it was down to a group of youngsters taking part in a sailing course on the River Itchen to find it.

The statue, designed by artist Cara Sandys and sponsored by First Hampshire and Dorset, was taken from its plinth on August 6.

Six other sculptures have been vandalised since the trail launched last month.

Hampshire Constabulary launched an investigation to track down the 5ft by 6ft statue.

And it was finally found this morning by a group of children taking part in a beginners' sailing course on the River Itchen.

They had just returned to the Active Nation-run Southampton Water Activities Centre when, as their course leader began to anchor the boat, they spotted the sculpture in the river.

Centre instructor Sam Spencer said: “We were packing up to go for lunch and as I dropped the anchor I hit something beneath the surface of the water. I pulled it out I was amazed to find it was the missing zebra!

“The children, who’d just got out of the boats, were watching 20 metres away on the shore and couldn’t believe what they were seeing! There was so much excitement.

“I’ve found some unusual items in the river before, wellington boots, telephone cables, but in the 18 years I’ve been sailing I’ve never found anything as remarkable as this. I feel quite proud to have ‘rescued’ it”.

Ticket to Ride sustained serious damage but it is hoped it will be back on the trail soon, although it may not be in the same position.

The trail, which has seen dozens of the sculptures placed around the city, is designed to raise awareness of the endangered Grevy's zebra.

Kirstie Mathieson, Marwell’s Zany Zebras project manager said: “The theft of ‘Ticket to Ride’ was a huge blow to the teams that have worked so hard to create this trail and to the thousands of people who have missed the sculpture on the trail.

“We would like to thank Southampton Water Activities Centre for reuniting us with Ticket to Ride. We now need to assess the damage to see if the sculpture can be repaired.

“We are also so grateful to everyone for their support and kind words since the theft and we will update everyone on our plans as soon as we know more.”

Anyone with information on the theft of Ticket to Ride or damage to any of the Zany Zebra statues is urged to call the police on 101.