The feather from the Pocahontas statue was discovered by a dog on Gravesend promenade at the weekend.

The missing feather was reported stolen from the monument at St George's Church in Church Street, last December and a custom-made replacement, worth around £1,000, was put in place earlier this month.

However, the original, stolen feather was then found by an inquisitive dog in the sand on the promenade and returned to the Gravesham Council offices by the animal's owner.

A Gravesham Council spokeswoman has confirmed the discovery.

Pocahontas was captured by the English during Anglo-Indian hostilities in 1613 and married tobacco planter John Rolfe. 

Four years later she died in Gravesend of unknown causes and is buried in the town although her exact burial spot in unknown.

Gravesham Council is expected to give more details on the discovery of the missing feather later this week.