A MODEL of a well-known animated robot whose heavy head was stolen by a hooded gang is back in one piece after his 30kg cranium was remarkably returned.

Nic and John Howe’s famous sculpture of Futurama’s beloved Bender was mindlessly targeted by hapless youths during the early hours of November 13.

After failing in their attempt to push him fully into the water, the cowardly crooks eventually made-off with his head, after it became removed from its body.

Following a public appeal both online and in the Gazette, the metal creation’s weighty noggin has now reappeared at the site from which it was stolen.

The return was even caught on camera in footage which shows a hooded figure placing the head on the ground next to its body before running off.

Nic, 46, who lives on a barge at the Hythe with husband John, 62, said: “It feels great to have him back, even though he needs his face repairing.

“I want to thank those who returned him; some faith in human nature has been restored - things haven't been easy for us lately, so it made our day.

“If it was the same ones who took him, they've definitely gone up in my estimations slightly - kudos to them for not just ditching him in any old place.”

During the original incident three people were caught on camera pulling up in a car, before racing towards the 5ft-tall fixture.

The model, however, is attached by a steel hawser to a metal ladder, which itself is fixed to the quay, so they were unable to fully dismantle the character.

Gazette:

Over the years Bender, who doubles-up as a firepit and is considered “a bit of a celebrity”, has proved popular with photo-snapping passers-by.

Nic now hopes the assault on her treasured robot, created using gas cans by her husband, was purely a prank as opposed to a personal attack on the couple.

She said: “As to why they did it, who knows? They turned up specifically with that in mind as you can see from the original vid.

“Was it a dare or an online challenge? Our neighbours recently caught some kids trying to nick some flowerpots for a dare, so perhaps that was it.

READ MORE: Colchester couple's Futurama model left headless after attack

“To everyone who played a hand in spreading the word, I want to say a massive thank you, from us and Bender. He was quite lost without his head.

“And a special thanks to the Gazette for getting involved too.”