STAFF at the Dean Heritage Centre are dismayed after a wooden carved owl from its Gruffalo Trail disappeared from the Soudley site on Monday.

The Centre is urging anyone who sees the stolen owl carving (see picture) or has any information regarding the theft to get in touch with local police, quoting incident number 106/18.

The popular Gruffalo Trail, which opened in the spring, depicts scenes from the Gruffalo storybook and has been painstakingly carved by resident chainsaw artists Clayton Ryder and Gil Parnham using locally sourced redwood from the Forest of Dean.

PR and event manager Harri Le Claire said: "The owl is an integral part of our trail and will now have to be replaced. It is always upsetting to have something stolen but as a charity, any thefts of this kind are very disconcerting.

"Clayton Ryder, who carved the owl, spent a large amount of his time creating the sculpture and we'd really like it back. Someone must know who has the owl as it is a unique piece of artwork and would be easily recognised."

The Gruffalo Trail remains open as usual and will continue throughout 2012.

For more information visit the website http://www.deanheritagecentre">www.deanheritagecentre. com or telephone 01594 822170.