DEREK Thornton has said he was "very happy" to see his stolen tractor and baler returned. 

Last month Mr. Thornton, who starred in the BBC series 'Derek's Dreaming Again', discovered that the vintage baling outfit had been stolen from his farm on the Stragowna Road, Kinawley. 

This sparked a joint investigation by the PSNI and Gardai, and thanks to "local knowledge", the stolen machinery was returned on Friday, August 30.

"Look it, I'm very happy to see it back in my yard," said Mr. Thornton. "Here, it wasn't looking good for a while, it definitely wasn't.

"But, local knowledge helped me along. Thankfully the tractor and baler is back in the street once again."

Mr. Thornton added:  "I thank everything who helped, the Guards, the Police, and Northern Sound. I am very happy, I really am."

Mr. Thornton's daughter, Olive, shared in her father's relief. 

"With the help of the general public, PSNI and Garda Sìochàna this has now been recovered and returned to himself," she posted on social media. 

"Thank you to all who shared. A happy man this week, just waiting on hay weather now."