THE mystery of a stolen scarecrow seems to have been cleared up after a men's magazine admitted responsibility for kidnapping her.

Nancy the policewoman was created by Stella Anderson as a fun entry for Middleton in Teesdale Carnival's scarecrow trail, but the lifelike dummy hit the national headlines when her realistic form managed to put the brakes on motorists speeding past Mrs Anderson's Laneside home.

But Nancy was stolen on Thursday of last week before judging could take place.

However, Loaded magazine, based in London, has now confessed that its staff snatched the dummy.

They took her on a sightseeing tour and to a celebrity party, but have now pledged to return her.

Editor Martin Daubney said: "We enjoyed Nancy's company but it's time for her to go home."