'Beloved' stag statue taken from hotel roof

An image of the stag statue that was stolen from the roof of the Mount Pleasant Hotel near Doncaster

A hotel has appealed for information about the whereabouts of a "beloved" life-size statue of a stag after it was stolen.

The stag, described as a "symbol of our history", vanished from the roof of the Mount Pleasant Hotel near Bawtry, Doncaster, on Thursday night.

The site's owners said they had reported the theft to South Yorkshire Police.

They asked the local community for help in "bringing" the animal back home in a Facebook post.

It read: "We're heartbroken to share that our beloved stag statue, which has proudly stood above our main entrance for years, was stolen overnight.

"The stag is more than just a decoration - it's a sentimental symbol of our hotel's history and character. We've reported this to the police, but we're also reaching out to our wonderful community for help."

The hotel urged people to get in touch if they had noticed anything unusual.

"Every little bit helps in bringing our stag back home.

"Thank you for your support - we truly appreciate it."

The hotel later clarified that the roof was not covered by CCTV, but that another camera had caught "two figures in black" moving the Christmas lights above the main entrance.

They added that due to strong winds at the time and a number of Christmas parties taking place at the venue, staff had not heard any suspicious activity.

Couples who have booked weddings at the hotel were reassured that the stag, a popular backdrop for photos, would be replaced with a "new deer" if the statue was not returned.

The hotel was an 18th Century farmhouse on the Rossington Hall estate when the Jenkinson family bought it in 1937 and their descendants still run the business today.

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