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Regional daily’s Super Mario story to air on national TV

The story of how a regional daily helped reunite a man with a stolen statue of Super Mario is set to be told on national television.

The Greenock Telegraph will appear on BBC One’s crime documentary series Thief Trackers this morning, with the tale of how its successful appeal led to the return of the ornament of the video game character.

The Telegraph launched an appeal last summer to help find the statue, which was stolen from George Docherty’s home in the town of Gourock.

Nine months later the distinctive garden feature was found on a nearby hill by Drew Haughey, a journalism graduate also from Gourock, who contacted the Telegraph about the discovery.

From left: George Docherty, Super Mario, Drew Haughey

From left: George Docherty, Super Mario, Drew Haughey

Mr Docherty credited the appeal by reporter Rosemary Lowne with helping to reunite him with the ornament.

Telegraph editor Brian Hossack said: “We were delighted to be able to help reunite George with his statue, and Rosemary deserves all the credit for that.

“It was a quirky story, a great example of good old fashioned local journalism, and I wasn’t surprised when we got the call from the BBC looking to feature it on their show.

“It’s heartening that our readers still turn to us as their local newspaper and a trusted brand when they are in trouble or in need of help.

“It is a great credit to the Greenock Telegraph and our staff that we still hold that place in the community – and on this occasion we are delighted to have come up trumps.”

The programme will air at 11.45am today on BBC One.