By Ed Chatterton

Police investigating the sighting of a crocodile in a UK canal have revealed the mystery has been solved after it turned out to be a stuffed model.

Residents had been left in fear after the reptile was spotted near to Mercia Marina, in Willington, Derbys., last week.

Derbyshire Police took to social media to launch "one of their strangest ever appeals" alongside a photo which prompted panic among some villagers.

But the force has now revealed the discovery of the dumped crocodile turned out to be "more fluff than fear."

Officers found the croc was a stuffed taxidermy model, filled with hay, and had been caught by a fisherman.

Derbyshire Rural Crime Team wrote on Facebook: "A huge thank you to everyone who shared our recent appeal about the crocodile spotted near

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