A 12-FOOT wooden snake sculpture created by a teenager as part of an outreach project has been stolen within two weeks.

The artwork was created by a 14-year-old boy from Springwell Dene special school, in Sunderland, at Elemore Woods, near Easington Lane, Wearside.

It was part of The Woodland Trust charity’s Visit Woods East Durham Project.
The sculpture was created it late July and stolen in early August. Its theft was announced today.

Chris Affleck, Visit Woods East Durham outreach officer, said: “Not only did the sculpture take a lot of hard work to complete, it also represents exactly how trees and woods provide a way for young people to express themselves when otherwise they may struggle to do so.

“I hope the sculpture can be returned to its rightful place to give the lads involved a chance to see it as part of the trail which had been created.”

The teenager, who has not been named, said: “(I am) really disappointed after so much work I put in and now no-one else can see it apart from the thief.”

For more information, go to visitwoods.org.uk/eastdurham