Queen's Platinum Jubilee: Curious case of missing crocheted Crown Jewels which went missing from post box

The crocheted Crown Jewels had been placed neatly on top of a post box on Gregson Lane in Hoghton to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee.

However, it was not long before residents noticed the regal crochet missing.

Carolyn Grimbaldeston, 48, who is one of the fundraising members for Gregson Green Community Centre in Preston, said: "On Thursday evening it was taken off the post box between 10.30pm and 11pm.

"Someone said they had seen a group of youths around this time."

She added: "The following morning we found it on top of a really tall hedge.

"Resident Harry Fowler got his step ladder to fetch it down and it was then restored to its rightful place with cable ties acting as a guard around it.”

Disheartened and unsure of what had happened, Carolyn continued: "Someone spent hours doing something really nice for our amazing village. This person is the Gregson Lane crochet fairy who has been putting knitted creations on post boxes since Covid.

"This is the fifth one.”

On Hoghton Noticeboard Facebook group other residents questioned if it was maybe taken in due to the rain, that it might have been “just a prank” or someone has possibly been drunk and used it as a hat.

Carolyn jested: "If it was the youths then maybe they were only having a laugh, but either way we managed to restore the Crown Jewels for the festival."