A REPLICA handgun has been stolen in a break-in at Southampton's Mayflower theatre.

Police revealed the automatic pistol had vanished from a stage manager's room on the first floor of the theatre, pictured right in Commercial Road on Saturday evening, along with a blank cartridge.

Officers believe the intruder sneaked in through the stage door and searched empty rooms at the back of the stage area before getting into a manager's office.

It is understood the fake pistol was used in productions at the theatre.

Anyone with information about the break-in, believed to have happened around 7.20pm, is urged to call Southampton crimedesk on 0845 045 4545, or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.