Stolen 'E.T.' statue back at home

COSHAM, England, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- A British woman said her homemade replica of the titular character from "E.T." is back home after thieves apparently dumped it in the water.

Margaret Wells, 76, of Cosham, England, said the life-sized replica, which was created by her daughter, was stolen from her home in September and she had given up hope of having it returned when police called her Thursday and said it had been found floating in the Solent strait, The Portsmouth News reported Tuesday.

"There's only one in the whole of England and that's mine. The police rang and said somebody has found a body in the Solent and it belongs to you -- it's E.T. I said, 'Oh god, I knew E.T. would come home,'" Wells said.

Wells said she is happy to have the model back at home.

"He's lost a finger and looks a bit roughed up," she said. "But he had a smile on his face."