HOSPICE chiefs are at a loss to explain why an advertising banner was stolen - the third to disappear in recent months.

Butterwick Hospice, in Bishop Auckland, now faces a £100 bill to replace the four metre long banner advertising one of its most successful fundraising events after it disappeared during the night last week.

The banner was attached to railings at the crossroads next to Woodhouse Leisure Centre, down the road from the hospice, but vanished overnight on Wednesday, April 20.

And it has emerged that it is not the first time a sign has gone missing. Another one was lost from the same location in October and a third disappeared at about the same time in Spennymoor.

Butterwick Hospice fundraising officer Helen Kirby said: “It is just disappointing. We don’t know why anyone would want to do that.

“It was securely fastened and it was quite big, so it hasn’t just blown away and all the cable ties were on the floor next to the railings.

“We have checked with the council and the town team and neither have removed the banners so we just don’t know what has happened. We even reported the first two to the police. We don’t know what anyone would want with them."

The money it would cost to replace the latest missing banner could be used to pay for four bereavement support sessions at the hospice.

Staff are considering whether it will be worthwhile to buy a new one as it was advertising the charity's 'rainbow dash' event and encouraging more people to register.

Miss Kirby said: “We are still deciding whether to replace it as it costs a lot of money and all our money comes from donations.”

She added: “It is a popular event for us and with the Bishop Auckland Food Festival at the weekend a lot of people would have seen the banner had it still been up.”

The 5km and 10km rainbow dash, which now includes bubbles, takes place at Hamsterley Forest, on Sunday, May 22, at 9.30am.

Admission for the 5km event is £17.50 for adults, £12.50 for children ten and over and under tens go free. The 10km challenge costs £20 for adults and £15 for children 12 and over (with parental consent) to enter.

All participants are asked to raise £50 in sponsorship and to be a VIP on the day you are asked to reach £100 in donations.

To register, visit butterwickhospice.org.uk/rainbowdash2016 or call 01388-603003.