A book which disappeared from Dittons library surfaced almost 4,000 miles way in America.

Last seen five years ago, John Van Der Kiste and Nicola Sly's More Cornish Murders simply vanished.

But now the true crime book has emerged at Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Librarian Megan Bell got in touch with Surrey County Council after spotting a Dittons library label in the front cover and doing some online research.

Following a transatlantic email exchange, the council donated the book to the American library after another copy of the book was located at the Egham branch.

How the book made it's way from Thames Ditton to the north eastern America city could never be known.

Mrs Bell said: "I wanted to be sure we did not have someone's property before we added it to our collection. Our true crime section is very popular with the patrons - I'm guessing this book will be a nice addition."

Richard Walsh, Surrey County Council cabinet member for localities and community wellbeing, said: "The county’s latest export to America may not have quite the same appeal as Magna Carta does but we’re still happy to donate it to our US friends.

"Crime paperbacks won’t suit every taste but we’ve got a huge range of novels to download and the shelves of our libraries are crammed with everything from bestsellers to books about the great charter Surrey gave to America and the rest of the world."