Charity 'devastated' as Ipswich Town owl destroyed

Clare Jackson with the owl before it was smashed

A charity worker says she was been left devastated after a popular Ipswich Town owl statue was destroyed late at night.

The Blossom Charity, in Eye, Suffolk, has for several years placed large statues of animals in the Go On Safari trail around the town.

The owl, featuring a blue football shirt, had been on display in the Market Place but at about 23:00 BST on Thursday it was reportedly vandalised.

Clare Jackson, the charity's fundraising manager, said she was left "speechless" at the thought of someone targeting it.

Clare Jackson was hoping the vandals would have their consciences pricked and offer volunteer time

"We won't be beaten by these people but we're just incredibly upset by it this morning," she told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"Everyone at the charity and a lot of people in the town are just devastated.

"The question is why? Why would someone do it?"

Ms Jackson said the full circumstances of how the statue was damaged was unknown but she would be reviewing CCTV in the area.

She has informed the artists, which she said was upsetting, and has also told the sponsor of the sculpture.

"It's heartbreaking. We've ran this trial for so many years and we've never had damage like this," she continued.

"It's malicious, mindless damage."

The charity is hoping to replace the owl with the help of the artist.

In a message to those who were responsible or knew what happened, Ms Jackson said: "Get in contact... speak to us and tell us why.

"Maybe they could volunteer a bit of time back for charity. Maybe they could [give] something back to make it right.

"We can't undo what has happened, but maybe their consciences could say 'OK, maybe it was a silly mistake'."