THIEVES have stolen a two hundredweight lead fountain from the middle of Saltburn's Valley Gardens. The culprits unbolted an protective ornate cage to get at the tiered one-and-a-half metre water feature.
The £1,600 fountain was only installed last December after a previous stone one was vandalised beyond repair within days. The new fountain, installed by Redcar and Cleveland Council, was taken sometime overnight on Thursday or Friday last week.
Ged Demoily, the council's parks and countryside manager, said: "We can only imagine the motive for this theft. It must have taken at least half-an-hour, then there's a long walk from the bottom of the Valley Gardens and presumably they must have had transport to take it away.
"We would like to think that we can get the fountain back but, of course, that's not going to be a simple task. It's a fair bet that someone has stolen this fountain to order. Hopefully, someone will see it as a new addition to a garden and report it immediately to police."
Discussions will be held between officers and councillors on whether to replace the fountain. Anyone with information should call PC Nick Edgar on (01642) 301926.
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