Mini-spaceman found in Fieldhead Hotel, Markfield after falling back to earth

He has been fired 20 miles into space, crash-landed in a hotel car park, lost his head and nearly been eaten after being mistaken for a novelty chocolate bar – but mini explorer Mojo Man has survived his great adventure.

Engineer Shaun Whitehead reported the six-inch figure missing in action after he blasted him into the sky on Saturday as part of an experiment which involved taking pictures of the edge of space.

While the equipment floated back to Earth, Mojo Man was nowhere to be found.

The Mercury reported on Tuesday that the diminutive spaceman was likely to be lying somewhere in the county, and asked readers to help Shaun find his missing traveller.

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Later that day, eagle-eyed Trevor White rang the Mercury to say he thought he had seen Mojo Man in the car park of the Fieldhead Hotel, Markfield, at the weekend.

We contacted the hotel to ask staff to look for the adventurer, but they were unable to locate him.

However, it later turned out receptionist Denise Wells had found Mojo Man in the car park that morning and put him on her desk.

"When I came in on Wednesday, I was told the assistant manager had had a bizarre conversation with a journalist from the Mercury about a tiny silver spaceman in our flower beds," she said.

"I got the figure and showed everyone. One of the staff laughed and said she had rescued him from a cleaner who had tried to get his silver suit off because she thought he was a novelty chocolate bar.

"They may have found the remains of Richard III but we are just as happy to have found Mojo Man. He's a little treasure."

Hotel assistant manager Michael Roome said being asked by a reporter to look for a silver spaceman in the flower beds was one of the most bizarre requests he had had.

"When I got the call, I thought it was a joke," he said. "We saw the photograph of Mojo Man so we went out to try to find him.

"We're delighted to have found him. He's a bit battered but considering his journey, and nearly being eaten, he's not looking too bad."

Heather Baggott, meeting and events co-ordinator at the hotel, said: "The little man had his head and both hands missing so we went out to try to find the rest of him.

"Denise found his left hand while I found his helmet next to a rose bush. We shall carry on looking to see if we can find the rest of him."

Mercury reader Trevor, 82, of Birstall, who saw Mojo Man in the car park, said: "I'm very happy to have played a small part in finding the spaceman."

The Mercury was not able to contact Shaun to give him the good news yesterday.