A LOCAL taxi driver is hopping mad after one of his beloved frogs was stolen.

Keith Fairclough realised a thief had legged it with his green friend when he jumped into his Ford Orion to pick up a passenger on Monday.

So far the thief has given the distraught driver - who is known to his customers as the "frog man" - the hop.

The frog is one of a collection of 20 ornamental plastic frogs which Keith keeps on the dashboard.

His friend and colleague, Roy Astley, said: "He's devastated. Keith has had the frogs for at least 14 years and loves them.

"He knew straight away that someone had pinched one when he got into the car that day.

"He ran into the office shouting, 'One of my frogs has gone'."

Keith, of Bolton Road, Radcliffe, works for Centre Radio Cars in Radcliffe.

"The frog was taken while the car was in the car park. A lad who was driving the car at the time had popped into the office for a second, and that's when the thief struck," said Mr Astley.

"The odd thing is that he didn't take any money or anything else but the frog."

Roy, of Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, added: "I suggested that Keith bring in the FBI - the Frog Bureau of Investigation!"

So far no leaps have been made in the investigation.

Keith, who was said by Mr Astley to be much too upset to talk about the theft, is appealing for the safe return of his friend.

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