Remembrance postbox topper soldier stolen

The soldier doll was installed on Saturday but was missing by Sunday evening

A postbox topper featuring a crocheted soldier and created as part of a Remembrance Day tribute has been stolen.

It was installed next to the old Post Office building in Wokingham on Saturday but by Sunday evening it had gone.

The Barkham Hookers crochet group said seeing part of the tribute go missing was "disheartening".

The group said it had not reported the theft to police and that no action would be taken if the person who took the doll brought it back.

The topper was installed to support the Poppy Appeal

Gaynor White, founder of the crochet group, told BBC Radio Berkshire: "While I appreciate that people think [the toppers] are great and they might want them, they're spoiling it for everyone aren't they?

"They could just ask us if we could make some and we'd be happy to do it for a donation to the charity.

"If they take them then no-one else sees them and it's a great shame and, frankly, it puts us off doing them because we think 'what's the point?'"

Ms White said the crochet dolls typically took many hours to make.

"I'd just like them returned, I don't need to know why or who," she said.

This theft comes after a postbox topper created to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day was stolen in Caversham, Reading, in May.