Mr Potato Head mystery unpeeled by council

He is an iconic toy, a film star - and a giant fibreglass statue in a market town.

But when Mr Potato Head disappeared from his usual spot outside Belper Town Council's offices in Derbyshire, some concerned locals feared the unusual artwork might have had its chips.

Now the town council has reassured fans that the figure has been temporarily removed to be repaired and repainted.

It forms the latest chapter in the story of the 7ft (2.1m) spud, which was gifted in 2000 by Belper's American twin town of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the birthplace of the Hasbro toy.

"He's a popular guy but a controversial one," said former Belper News editor Adrian Farmer, who documented Mr Potato Head's divisive arrival, colourful makeover and "spud-nap" when the statue was kept hostage in 2002.

The statue was one of 48 to be made, with others installed across Rhode Island as part of a campaign by Rhode Island Tourism Division and Hasbro.

It was shipped across the Atlantic, decorated in a grey suit and hat to resemble William Blackstone, one of the first English settlers in Rhode Island in 1635.

"Immediately, there were two views in the town - those people who absolutely loved him and those people who absolutely didn't," said Farmer.

Mr Potato Head was first positioned outside the town's McDonalds restaurant because "that seemed a bit American and the right place to put him", according to Farmer.

The Toy Story star was relocated to numerous spaces across Belper, including being chained to the Safeway supermarket in 2002.

It was on 1 April that year that Farmer and his journalist colleagues received a letter and photograph through the office door, signed by the "Potato Liberation Army".

"Students had snapped his chains, moved him into the middle of an island in the road and wrapped him in tinfoil," said Farmer.

The statue was later returned by the students in what Farmer described as the statue's "biggest adventure".

Mr Potato Head underwent a decorative makeover in 2015 by a local youth group, painting him in the colours of the recognisable Hasbro toy.

More recently the statue was moved from De Bradelei Mill to the town council's office garden, where his hand, arm and hat were found to be broken and posed a risk of injury to the public.

The council said: "We have been made aware that there are claims that Mr Potato Head has gone missing.

"Belper Town Council have approved the repair and repainting of Mr Potato Head which is why he has been temporarily removed.

"Please be assured we are taking good care of him and he will return as soon as his repairs have been completed."

"I think people will love seeing him," said Farmer, "I'm sure there'll be people lining up to have their photographs taken with him again."

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.