CALLOUS thieves have stolen two mosaics which were created as a part of a £15,000 Selston community project.
Funding for the two 6ft x 5ft art works was secured through the Heritage Lottery Fund by the Portland Path Project.
The mosaics were made by local craft groups and school children from the area and depict the story of the Portland Railway - an early 19th century horse drawn mineral railway which carried coal from local collieries.
They were stolen from the side of the Crown Inn pub in Nottingham Road, Selston, at some point during the past week.
More than £14,000 of lottery money was used for the project but the mosaics themselves have little monetary value.
Project chairman Martyn Taylor-Cockayne has labelled it a ‘pointless’ and ‘bloody-minded’ theft.
He said: “It’s absolutely terrible that someone would stoop to such low depth. They are stealing from the community.
“It couldn’t have just been one person and they would have needed a big vehicle to take them away.
“It is just pure bloody-mindedness and is completely pointless.”
Councillor Gail Turner, who unveiled the mosaics in July, has also slammed the theft.
She said: “I feel this is a despicable act against a community which has worked so hard to obtain the money and make these mosaics.”
A reward of £200 is being offered for any information which leads to a conviction of those responsible.
Anyone with information should call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments