Plaque stolen from 'much-loved' bear statue

The plaque was taken from a statue in Chalfonts, York

A brass plaque has been stolen from a "much-loved" statue of a bear in York.

The metallic sign was taken from the ursine sculpture in Chalfonts, a cul-de-sac off Tadcaster Road, between 5 and 6 November.

The plaque is engraved with the words "Award for Good Design" and was granted by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in 1969.

Local councillor Stephen Fenton said: “It’s desperately sad to see an important and much-loved piece of local history ripped away like this."

Stephen Fenton said it was "desperately sad" the plaque had been taken

Mr Fenton said the plaque was only small and he believed it had been stolen by "metal thieves hoping to make a few quid."

Although the bear has become a "much-loved landmark", Mr Fenton said the reason why it occupied the spot was unknown.

"It's been there since the houses were built in 1969 but it's one of these strange stories that no-one knows why," he said.

"The bear looks sad and lonely but it's a striking statue."

Duncan Marks, planning and heritage manager at York Civic Trust, was also in the dark about why a bear statue was located in a residential area.

"If such a fearful beast was chosen to deter thieving of the 1970 design award, sadly he's been found sleeping on the job," he said.

Mr Marks said the Civic Trust had seen many of its plaques in the city stolen, "presumably for their metal value", prompting the organisation to now use aluminium for its blue plaques, which materially would be "worthless to a thief".

Mr Fenton said residents were initially told that police would not be investigating the theft but was "pleased" to see that had now changed.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: "We know the statue is a prominent and much-loved local landmark".

Officers have appealed for information or anyone who may have relevant CCTV or video doorbell footage.

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