THE game is back on after a set of stolen goalposts were returned - much to the delight of budding young footballers.

The youngsters were left devastated when thieves struck at South Bank Primary School last week and made off with posts.

Staff at the school saw them in the garden of a nearby property, but by the time police arrived, they had gone.

However, when they spotted them again in the same area the police were quickly on the ball and recovered the slightly damaged posts.

Headteacher Brenda Urwin said: "As soon as we saw the posts we got on the phone to South Bank police and PC Geoff Lee was straight onto it.

"Within minutes he called us back and said he was going to drop the posts off using a flatbed truck - he was really, really good.

"When I told the children there was a massive cheer from them all - they were absolutely delighted.

"The posts were damaged, mainly because some bolts were missing and the net was torn, but our caretaker is going to put them back together and make sure they are okay."