THE lucky arrows of top international darts player Raymond Van Barneveld could be winging their way back to him after they were stolen at the Reebok Stadium.

Dutchman Van Barneveld, also known as "Barney", competed in the Budweiser UK Open darts championship at the Reebok Stadium earlier this month.

He won the £30,000 UK title, but was distraught when his darts were taken from the drinks podium on stage.

Van Barneveld said they had a special place in his heart because he threw a perfect nine-dart finish the equivalent of a 147 in snooker with them in February.

Now the Reebok Stadium has had a call from a fan who claims he took the darts. Matt Porter, of the Professional Darts Corporation, said: "We've had a call from a guy who's told us he's sending them back, but we have received nothing as yet."

At the time of theft, Van Barneveld said: "These darts are special to me. I don't blame the fan who took them. Everyone was very excited and there was a great atmosphere. "Whoever it was must have just been caught up in the heat of the moment."

The four-times world champion did not report the theft to the police, and offered the person who took them another set of his own darts.