February 5, 2001 17:14: THE 14-day abduction ordeal of a two-year-old childrens nursery guinea pig came to a happy end after the News Shopper reported its plight.
Busy the guinea pig was reunited with tearful tots from the Busy Bees playgroup in Biggin Hill last Friday "a bit thin but otherwise well".
The amazing development came just two days after the News Shopper broke the news about the theft of Busy, who was taken in an audacious night time raid on the nurserys Church Road premises.
Group leader Tonia Say said she was "choked" when she was guided outside to a car where a stranger opened the boot to reveal Busy in her cage.
"I couldn't believe it, it has all happened so quickly," she said emotionally. "I knew straight away what it was when the lady told me she had something I might be interested in."
The mystery woman, who was accompanied by her teenage son, vanished as soon as she had arrived, probably taking with her, the full story of Busy's fortnight away.
Mrs Say added that the woman told her how her son had found the furry creature outside Biggin Hill Library "soaking wet" shortly after she had vanished on January 18. The woman said she took Busy to a vet's surgery and reported the discovery to the police.
Praising the community-mindedness of the region's favourite weekly, Mrs Say said: "It must have been because of the News Shopper. Busy was missing for over two weeks and then just after the story hit the front page she was returned.
"It cant be a coincidence. The children will be so happy, theyll probably make some more posters."
Busy Bees turned to the News Shopper in desperation after the Biggin Hill News had ignored repeated messages to ring the distraught children.
The Westerham-based local newspaper eventually ran a small story, two weeks after being told of the playgroup's loss, which came out a day after the News Shopper. But by then it was too late, Busy was on her way home.
A high ranking police spokesman said: "The publicity given to the case by the News Shopper has brought about the happy end to this case. The police welcome any assistance we can get from the press."
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