A PLAQUE commemorating the world-beating achievements of Golborne's most famous son went missing immediately after being unveiled.

But the tribute to late boxing world champion -- the late "Battling Blacksmith" Peter Kane -- is in safe hands.

The "missing" plaque was the talk of the town after last week's ceremony when Wigan Mayor Cllr Mrs Joan Hurst officially named a town centre square in honour of the hammer-fisted flyweight who ruled the world from 1938-43.

The champ's grandson Peter Cain said scores of people had been in touch informing them the engraved plaque had been stolen.

But thankfully its absence is only temporary.

Wigan councillor Tom Sherratt revealed: "The plaque was only on display during the ceremony. It was taken away for safe keeping and will be going back on permanent display after being securely fixed in place."

Mr Kane, who died aged 73 in 1991, was the people's champion and the community's choice when locals selected a title for the town's £120,000 centrepiece square.

And the fighter's grandson expressed relief that the plaque was in safe hands.

"It would have been a disappointment for the people of Golborne if it had been stolen -- after all the good work that has been done," said grandson Peter, a keen amateur boxing follower and a friend of Bolton's former world champ Robin Reid.