'Golden Coq' returned to southern French village after 25 years

A rueful thief has returned a golden ornamental cockerel stolen in a French village, lifting the veil on its mysterious disappearance nearly 25 years ago.

The wrought-iron, gold-painted cockerel was taken in April 1999 from the top of an outdoor Catholic cross in Bessan, a village of 5,500 inhabitants located between the towns of Beziers and Agde in southern France.

Locals were kept guessing as to its where