Long-lost bass guitar returned to Paul McCartney after more than 50 years

Violin-shaped Höfner vanished after Beatles split up but has resurfaced in pub in west London after global appeal

A Höfner bass guitar bought by Paul McCartney in 1961 has been returned to the former Beatle after a global search to find the stolen instrument.

The distinctively shaped guitar, bought by McCartney before his rise to stardom and reportedly his favourite, was last seen around the time the Beatles were recording their final album to be released, Let It Be.