POLICE are combing the surrounding area after a thief – or a prankster – beheaded the tomb effigy of

the parish church's founder and made off with it.

The head of the Robert De Wakering effigy – already detached from its lower half in a past mishap – has been stolen from the historic church he founded in Newland, near Coleford, more than 700 years ago in the reign of King John.

Local historian Averil Kear said: "We bear no animosity towards whoever took the head, but we would just like them to bring it back to the church quietly and leave it in its place.

"Unfortunately the head was loose, but the complete effigy shows important things like just what people wore in those days.

"We can't tell exactly when it went missing – you know how it is, you go in and out of the building without really looking and then you see out of the corner of your eye something is different.

"It's very sad – but we don't want to lock the church and turn it into a museum, we want everyone to be able to go in and enjoy it."

The Westminster Abbey monk's head lay with his torso on the tomb in the grade one listed building, also known as 'the Cathedral of the Forest', until it was spirited away between April 1 and April 16.

Assistant churchwarden Bea Erskine said: "The Parochial Church Council are saddened beyond measure that this ancient artefact, which can have no real meaning or worth outside the church, but is priceless to All Saints' Newland, has been stolen.

"We would be overjoyed to see it returned to its rightful place."

Police are appealing for information about the theft and are urging anyone who has seen the head or saw suspicious activity in the area to call 101, quoting incident 294 of April 26.

Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org">www.crimestoppers-uk.org