The head of an iconic dog statue decapitated at the weekend has been returned to a hotel.

Staff at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel in Ashford Road, Hollingbourne, were devastated to find the head of one of the stone statues at the front of the site had been removed on Sunday morning.

But they were even more surprised when it was returned this morning in a box with a note saying simply "Sorry".

Manager Dominic Di Cara said: "We are devastated that this has happened. But we are delighted that they saw the error of their ways and returned it.

"The dogs are landmarks; they are iconic. I had been looking at replacing the entire dog as you can't buy the head alone, but now it can be repaired."

The box containing the severed head was left at the hotel's steps.

It is the second time one of the dogs has lost its head. The previous occasion was in 2012. The head was again returned later.

Mr Di Cara said: "I think alcohol probably does play a part. I think after a few drinks people probably think it's fun to ride the dogs."