A vintage Irn-Bru can pulled from a pond in Northampton has sparked a mystery after it was revealed it didn't feature the usual strong man logo or even the iconic orange and blue colours of modern cans.
Connor Scott from Corby, was magnet fishing - a hobby where strong magnets are used to dredge canals and waterways for metal - near a housing estate when he snagged the rare can.
Unable to tell how old it was, he decided to take it home to clean up and try to find out a bit more.
The can which is rusted over in some parts due to its age, features a cloud and a semi-rainbow motif with white and blue colouring and both the Barr's and Irn-Bru logos in strong letters with the tagline "Scotland's national soft drink" at the bottom.
Connor, who has been magnet fishing for around nine months and runs his own Youtube channel called Berry Finds dedicated to the hobby, said: "It's a bit of a mystery, I have been told it could be the 1970s but I'm hoping, due to it not having the trademark weightlifter on the front of the can, that it could mean it was early 1900s by looking when the strongman was added onto the cans."
He added that the only other can he's come across that comes close to this is an old 7up can from around 1970 that he pulled out of the water in Market Harborough.
Posting his find on some local Facebook pages, he set about trying to see if anyone knew much more about the special can.
Several people suggesting getting in touch with Barr's while a few suggested it might have been a can released by the firm in the early 1970s.
While one other joked: "Is it full? If so it will probably still taste better than the new recipe."
Connor got in touch with Barr's directly, who confirmed that it was an early can design that dates back to 1972 when IRN-BRU was first launched in a can format.
A very short-lived design, it was later replaced with much more recognisable branding in 1973.
An IRN-BRU spokesperson said: "What a phenomenal find, always good when you can catch up with an old friend".
A delighted Connor said he'll definitely be keeping his rare find, he said: "When I received word back from Barr's I instantly told my wife and was shocked to learn it was only in production for one year. Can't believe I found one in good condition."
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