A FISHY mystery has taken another twist after 30 goldfish, which were thought to have been eaten by a greedy heron, reappeared in the garden pond from which they were stolen.

The fish, some as large as eight inches, disappeared from Sidney Carter’s garden pond in Birch Road, Barnard Castle, overnight between April 15 and 16.

At first, police in Barnard Castle blamed thieves, but changed their mind after a similar incident at a house in Galgate in the town overnight between April 21 and 22.

On this occasion, 15 large goldfish were taken from a pond that was protected by a high garden wall. Officers investigating the incident could not find any tracks or evidence of how the thieves escaped with their bounty.

There was also a partially-eaten goldfish near the side of the pond.

Inquiries revealed that a heron had been spotted in gardens in nearby Woodside and in another garden in Birch Road, leading police to pin the disappearances on the bird.

However, on Friday, Mr Carter discovered that all 30 of his fish had been returned.

“They are definitely the same fish, because I recognised some of the ones which are yellow and black,” he said.

“I was delighted. My grandchildren and great-grandchildren love coming to see the fish, so it was sad when they were all taken.”

However, police think the fish may never have left the pond.

Sergeant Chris Knox, from Barnard Castle police, said: “From the information we received from residents there seems to be at least one heron in Barnard Castle taking fish from ponds.

“We believe that it’s more than likely they have been frightened by the heron and retreated to the murky depths out of sight.

“It’s unlikely that someone will have returned them.”

But Mr Carter disagreed with the police theory, saying: “It certainly wasn’t a heron because a heron wouldn’t bring them back.

“They haven’t been hiding because you still would have been able to see them – there is no way that all 30 fish could have stayed out of sight.”