The 52-year mystery of who stole the World Cup has been solved after the nephew of a gangland robber claimed his uncle “nicked it for the thrill”.

Gary Cugullere and two other sources reportedly told the Mirror that Sidney Cugullere, then aged 40, broke into the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, Central London, on Sunday 20 March 1966 and ran off with the winged Jules Rimet trophy.

Cugullere then took the secret to his grave when he died of cancer in 2005 - although his nephew said he did tell family and close friends.

Gary said his father Reg was also near the scene at the time of the theft, and recalled Sid emerging from the hall, lifting his jacket and saying: “’Ere you are, Reg, look at this.”

He went on: “My dad went: “F***ing hell, Sid, what the f*** do you think we are going to do with that?”