SECURITY has been stepped up at Soudley's Dean Heritage Centre following the theft last week of a wooden carving of a fox.

The carving, made from Redwood and measuring four feet long, was stolen overnight on Thursday of last week.

Trustee Neil Parkhouse described the theft as "upsetting."

"We have now increased security and all the carvings will in future be locked away at night in a steel container," he said.

Mr Parkhouse said obtaining the correct wood for carving was expensive.

"It's not a question of simply walking into the woods and picking up a piece of timber. There is a very careful selection process and a length of timber of the right quality can cost as much as £2,000," he said.

Police are appealing for information and say a reward of up to £1,000 may be paid if there was a conviction. Anyone who can help is asked to telephone the new non-emergency number 101 quoting incident number 137 of March 9.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or via http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org">www.crimestoppers-uk.org