It may seem like an adventure for Peter Pan in Neverland but Lothian Police is investigating the case of 300 stolen smiles this week.

Edinburgh Leisure’s PR Manager, Mike Pinkerton, was the unhappy victim of the bizarre theft in Edinburgh’s city centre.

On approaching his car to make his way to work Mike discovered, that the rear window of the vehicle had been smashed and although his car stereo remained intact, his CDs were all present, the box of smiles stored in his back seat overnight had….vanished.

The ‘smiles’ in question are promotional tools created by Edinburgh Leisure, each one consisting of a pair of smiling red lips printed on a white paper flag. As you could only expect, this unhappy crime has left the organisation feeling rather sad.

Titter ye not. It might sound like a funny story but those investigating on behalf of Edinburgh Leisure are taking this crime somewhat seriously.

Consider the evidence.

Research that shows laughter helps protect the heart and reduces blood pressure. A throaty chuckle or two increases your tolerance to pain, reduces allergic reaction and bolsters the immune system.

The key is endorphins, those natural chemicals within the body that are spontaneously released whenever we find ourselves succumbing to a gut-busting belly laugh.

Yes, that’s right, the same kind of endorphin rush experienced during brisk exercise.

Edinburgh Leisure is combining the two, creating an almost superpower – we can speculate that the power amounted by this promotion was the equivalent to the strength of three local GPs and four hilarious sit coms..

In a bid to prevent a plague of colds, and January blues sweeping across the city, Edinburgh Leisure have stepped up, as any great superhero would, and offered a free annual membership to anyone who can shed light on the mysterious case of 300 missing smiles.

Anyone who may have seen the smiles or is able to volunteer information is being asked to contact Edinburgh Leisure at mail@edinburghleisure.co.uk

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