The West Mercia force said it had been hunting individuals "presumably purporting to be the Easter bunny".

The spring-time, choc treats vanished - along with their gooey fondant centres - from a unit in Telford on Saturday.

But the eggs were found when police stopped a vehicle on the M42 motorway, the force said.

It added officers had "saved Easter for Creme Egg fans" in the recovery of confectionery valued at about £40,000.

Police said other chocolate varieties were taken from the site in Stafford Park but the force appeared to flake on those details.

A 32-year-old man of no fixed abode has been charged with criminal damage and two counts of theft.