A landmark pub is urging for the safe return of its well known sign after it was blown away by storm Eunice.

The Ye Olde Thirsty Pig on Knightrider Street, Maidstone has been without its pink pig mascot since the gale force winds hit on February 18.

The pub's CCTV shows the sign flying upwards and landing in the road, where it was retrieved by three young men who carried it off.

The pub is owned by Angela and Spencer Nichol. Mrs Nichol said: "It's a case of pigs might fly!

"I guess we are lucky there were no vehicles in the road at the time."

The pub had closed because of the storm and didn't re-open until the wind had abated in the late afternoon.

She said: "We had hoped that they had simply taken it away for safe-keeping, as with the pub closed, they couldn't hand it in immediately. But we have heard nothing."

She said: "We have two pub signs. It was the one in Lower Stone Street that was damaged. The sign in Knightrider Street is okay.

The Thirsty Pig has put out an appeal on Facebook hoping that whoever has the sign will see it and bring the pig back."

The pub is an iconic building of Maidstone. Built in 1440 it is of Tudor design and is reported to be the third oldest building in Maidstone.

It is a building that has stood the test of time but now it sits without its well known logo. As the appeal on Facebook says: "The pub is not the same without it, a pub needs a pub sign."

Police have not been approached yet as the pub hopes the person who has kept the sign safe will return it to its rightful place.

A reward is being offered for the pig's safe return.