THEY proved to be the star attractions of last summer, but now some of the barons have returned, virtually at least, as Pokestops.

At least four of the barons — The Runnymede Baron, Busy Bee, Baron Love Heart and East Meets West — have appeared on hit mobile game Pokemon Go despite having been sold at auction last summer and disappearing from Salisbury's streets and parks.

Pokemon Go has swept the nation and key to the game are Pokestops, where players are able to stock up on goods vital for success.

They are dotted all over Salisbury at prominent locations such as the Guildhall, Poultry Cross, Salisbury Library and St Thomas's Church. The locations are selected from of geo-tagged photos on Google or from suggestions submitted to game designer Niantic. As a computer algorithm selects the locations, it would appear the barons which appear on the game come from photos uploaded to Google by visitors last year.

In all 25 barons were dotted across the city, but not all of them have made it onto the game.

The barons were displayed throughout last summer to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. They were sold at auction in October to helping to raise £59,000 for the Trussel Trust.