THEY say pigs might fly - but in this case it may well have done!

Mystery surrounds the disappearance of a two-foot-long, three-and-a-half stone pink pig from a Southampton shop.

The miniature porker was last seen resting his head against the door of GFC Collectables, in Bridge Road, Woolston, moments before he vanished.

Shop owner Graham Dowse said: "I had the pig in the doorway because it causes people to look."

He added: "I never expected anyone to take it."

The £95 pig, which is understood to be the only one of its type in South-ampton, went missing at 2.50pm from the doorway of GFC Collectables.

Mr Dowse opened his collectables shop only five months ago after trading for 14 years as a television store.

He said that the pig, which is made of resin, was from the Piggin Collection - a series of model pigs in all different situations and sizes that are sold at many jewellers throughout the UK.

They usually cost anything from £9 to £19, but as this pig was so large it had been attracting a lot of interest.

Mr Dowse said: "I've had people asking after it and someone even said they were saving up to buy it.

"It's massive. I can only just struggle to carry it.

"Someone must have seen something."

Anyone with information about last Friday's theft is urged to contact Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545.