Vandalised orange elephant moved from A38 roadside

The graffiti was spotted by passers-by before it was removed from the roadside location on Monday

A Devon roadside landmark has been removed after it was vandalised, its owners say.

The orange elephant, normally positioned in a field next to the A38, near Kennford, close to Exeter, was only restored by its owners - the Taverner family - in November.

The words "no dump" were spray-painted on the statue, thought to be in response to controversial plans for a proposed temporary landfill site on land owned by the family.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the incident was believed to have taken place overnight between Sunday 8 December and Monday 9 December.

The statue was given a "spruce up" in November and placed back in its usual home at the side of the A38

In various forms, the orange elephant has been in place beside the A38 since 2006

The landfill proposals are the subject of a planning application from local business BT Jenkins and have yet to be decided on by Devon County Council.

Devon and Cornwall Police said there were no viable lines of inquiry at the moment, but, if further evidence came to light, the incident could be re-visited.

Helen Taverner, owner, manager and ice cream maker at Orange Elephant Ice Cream, said the elephant was already in the process of being "beautifully restored" after the "horrendous" vandalism.

She said: "We recognise there's a difference of views on the plans and continue to welcome a sensible debate, but this is not the first time we've had to involve the police.

"We ask everyone to let this be the moment. We all take a step back and agree to conduct this debate sensibly and with respect for each other."