A Penny Lane street sign stolen by drunk students has been returned to Liverpool, 47 years after the theft.

The sign of the Mossley Hill suburb was taken in 1976, nine years after the road was made famous when the Beatles’ single Penny Lane was released as a double A-side single with Strawberry Fields Forever.

Earlier this year, the Beatles Story museum in Liverpool was contacted by a man who said he wanted to send the “totally pristine” sign back to the city.

The former student, who described the petty thieves as “worse for wear” when they stole the sign, said: “Because I am getting on a bit now, I want to return it to the Pool, where I spent six very happy years as a student, undergrad then postgrad, including meeting my wife of 44 years.

“Obviously, Liverpool is where the sign should now spend the rest of its days.”

The sign is not the only one to have been stolen from the road but museum bosses said it was the oldest to be returned.

Dan Barrington, Liverpool city council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “The removal of street signs is a criminal offence which can lead to a prison sentence.

“However, given the history of this case and the fact this Penny Lane has got back to where it belongs after what looks like a long and winding journey, then I think we can all agree to just let it be.”