A parking ticket machine stolen from a popular National Trust site in the Lake District has been found dumped more than 24 miles away in West Cumbria.
Cumbria police confirmed they recovered the machine at 3.30pm on Sunday north of Allonby, by Allonby Beck.
It is understood that heavy cutting machinery, such as an angle grinder, was used to saw it from its foundations at Great Wood car park, which is around 1.5 miles out of Keswick on the Borrowdale Road.
The value to replace the machine has been put at £5,000. It has not been disclosed how much money it contained.
The National Trust said every penny generated from the car park goes into conservation work in the area.
Police believe it was taken overnight on Friday.
Great Wood is one of the most popular car parks for Derwentwater with nearby access to picturesque Calf Close Bay and the start of a circular route around the water.
Parking ticket machines have been stolen from other popular tourism destinations in the past, including the Cotswolds and Cornwall.
Anyone with information about the theft can report it online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it or phone on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
