A musician has been reunited with a valuable 18th century violin after a secret car park exchange.

Stephen Morris left the antique instrument, made by master craftsman David Tecchler in 1709, on the London Victoria to Orpington service at Penge East on the evening of Tuesday October 22, only realising the morning after.

My violin is home safe and sound! Thanks for the overwhelming support x — stephen morris (@stephen55649619) November 2, 2019

Mr Morris tweeted a message on Saturday evening revealing he had been reunited with the instrument: "My violin is home safe and sound! Thanks for the overwhelming support," he said.

Overseen by plain-clothes police officers, the instrument was handed over to Mr Morris at a car park in Beckenham on Friday evening (November 1) after a suspect was identified.

The BBC reported that the man who handed the violin back to Mr Morris apologised, saying he had made a mistake.

British Transport Police meanwhile said they would be taking no further action against the man involved, as he had contacted Mr Morris and handed the violin back.

Mr Morris said: "It couldn't have ended in a happier way."

The expert violinist told News Shopper during the search for the violin that he considered himself "a custodian" of the instrument that is believed to be worth around £250,000.

"I’m more of a custodian than an owner of the instrument. They’re extremely sought after and this one has a particularly wonderful range of sounds," he said.