It was a crime that could have leapt straight from the pages of a Sherlock Holmes mystery.

Drunken pranksters decided to ridicule the author of the famous detective stories by stealing a hat from his statue.

A youth climbed on to the plinth supporting a 6ft 4in statue of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was mounted before breaking off the hat from the writer's hand.

But the culprit left evidence which lesser mortals than Sherlock Holmes would have found easy to follow up.

For the 17-year-old was captured on CCTV carrying out the act at Cloakes Corner, Crowborough, leading police straight to the offender - and the missing hat.

Sergeant Tony Wakefield, sector commander for Crowborough, said: "It was certainly a modern way of solving a crime compared to what Mr Holmes and Watson had available.

"I am going to insist that the hat is fixed back on in as strong a manner as possible."

Sculptor David Cornell spent a year crafting the £46,000 monument, working from old photographs of Conan Doyle.

The author lived in Crowborough for 23 years and penned some of his best-loved works while overlooking the golf course at Windlesham Manor.

Mr Cornell, 65, who has worked alongside Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso during his 40-year career, refused to be too harsh on those responsible.

He said: "It's very annoying considering that a lot of time and effort went into it and I did get a little emotional when I heard, but I suppose that is the way of the world today.

"But saying that, I probably would have done the same myself if I were his age."

Had the hat not been retrieved, Crowborough Town Council could have faced a bill of more than £1,800.

Mayor Gillian Nassau said: "It just goes to show the value of CCTV cameras as well as the stupidity of those responsible for committing the crime under the noses of them.

"But all the same we are glad we have the hat back and even more glad to have the CCTV cameras in place which have no doubt proved their worth."

A 17-year-old youth from Crowbrough has been cautioned about the incident and no further action will be taken.