For the past three-and-a-half weeks, Relish owner Sue Dunkley and her team have been on the hunt after their Rhino award was stolen from their store.

Two weeks ago both Relish and Star FM began receiving ransom letters and phone calls from the kidnappers asking them to carry out certain tasks.

On Tuesday the ladies were asked to work top-less from 11am-1pm, but instead they wore aprons with inflatable breasts attached to them.

Yesterday Dazza from Star FM was made to ride the water slide at the RSL Club's Aquatic and Leisure Centre three times, wash a car at Ezi-Clean and drink a coffee at Relish whilst watching Sue do star jumps and push ups.

After completing their tasks at around 9:30 yesterday morning, a taxi rolled up to the front of the store and the driver delivered a box with Roger inside and a note identifying the kidnappers.

Bernard Wilson and Sam Jeffries from ZJK Paving and Landscaping were the brains behind the operation and they stress that the whole scandal was nothing but a practical joke.

"We felt that Sue and the gang didn't respect Roger enough so we thought we would make them want him and appreciate him more," Sam said.

"While the ladies had their backs turned in the shop Bernard gave me the wink and I yelled "Woops I forgot my money", grabbed Roger and took him out to our work truck.

"Once we realised the situation was getting a bit serious, we thought we would make it fun with the ransom letters and tasks."

Both Sam and Bernard said they woke up an hour before work each morning to plan their letter drops in time for the Star FM news.

"I think we have done an excellent job," Sam said.

"We are busy enough with work as it is and to plan a kidnapping in our spare time is a pretty good effort,"

"The whole thing was just priceless."

Despite her initial feelings of anger and pain after realising Roger had been stolen, Sue can now see the funny side of her ordeal.

"The boys from ZJK come in for lunch everyday and we know them very well," Sue said.

"I'm just over the moon to have Roger back and I won't be holding any grudges against the boys."

anna.yeo@ruralpress.com