'Relief' as Olympic medal recovered

TeamGB hockey player Hannah Macleod has said it was a "huge relief" that her stolen Olympic bronze medal has been recovered.

The 2012 medal was one of two, belonging to Miss Macleod, 28, and rower Alex Partridge, 31, which were taken along with their TeamGB jackets as they partied at a London nightclub in the early hours of Wednesday.

Scotland Yard said that it had been posted anonymously to the England Hockey head office at Bisham Abbey in Buckinghamshire.

Miss Macleod will have to wait to be reunited with her medal though, as it is being kept by officers investigating the theft. But she said she was extremely pleased that it had been found and thanked everyone who had helped publicise the medals' disappearance.

"I am indebted to everyone who has tweeted about it, everyone who has got in touch and who has publicised the situation," she said. "Given the huge impact the Olympic Games has had on London and the UK, I always held hope that it would be returned but it's still incredible to know now I have my medal back.

"I'm conscious that the police investigation is still ongoing and that Alex Partridge's medal is yet to be returned and I urge whoever has it to return it too."

The medals were taken as the pair partied at the Mahiki nightclub in Mayfair following a reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night to celebrate the achievements of the 2012 athletes.

Miss Macleod had asked via Twitter for whoever took the medal to post it back to the hockey headquarters at Bisham Abbey in Buckinghamshire. She told the Sun she had also been scouring eBay to see if it was on the popular auction website.

Mr Partridge's jacket - minus his medal - was handed in to a north-west London police station on Thursday. A 31-year-old man was arrested in connection with the thefts and bailed until November 23.

Partridge is still hoping his medal will also be returned and suggested it could safely be sent to his sport's headquarters. He tweeted: "If you have my medal please send it to British Rowing 6 Lower Mall Hammersmith London."