The Royal Air Force has made a grovelling apology to the Swizzle Inn after drunken crewmen tried to steal the sign from outside the pub.

And the airmen have sent a framed photograph of a fighter jet as a peace offering to Swizzle owner Jay Correia, (right) through Government House. The pranksters, who were staying at the nearby Grotto Bay Beach Hotel, took the sign from outside Swizzle after a boozy night last December and were planning to take it to the airport.

They were only thwarted when a taxi driver spotted the souvenir hidden near the hotel entrance and told them it was going nowhere.

A Sergeant A. John, based in Marham, Norfolk, has written a fulsome apology on behalf of his colleagues. He wrote: ?Please may I offer my sincerest apologies for my inappropriate behaviour and that of other members of the ground crew.

?Our conduct was totally reprehensible and was neither typical nor becoming of personnel of 39 (1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit) Squadron or the RAF in general. It is my earnest wish that this regrettable incident in no way sours the relationship between the Swizzle Inn and the RAF.

?The RAF does not, and will not, tolerate behaviour of the kind of exhibited during our stay in Bermuda and actions to ensure that events are never repeated have been undertaken.

?I can assure you that we all deeply regret the harm and shame that this incident has caused and once again offer our sincere apologies.?

The photo says: ?Thanks for a memorable time?. Mr. Correia added: ?It definitely was, but they spent a bloody fortune here so, I can?t get too mad at them.?