The owner of a south Wiltshire manor house has described his ‘devastation’ after four valuable bronze statues were stolen in an overnight raid.
As this paper reported, the artwork was plundered from the gardens of historic Iford Manor near Bradford on Avon, in early hours of Friday morning.
Four replica classic statues - some of which had stood in the grounds for more than a century - were taken as the manor hosted a four-day jazz festival.
Thieves have stolen a large statue of She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus, including the plinth, two Roman deer and a bust of Antinous from Iford Manor, Wiltshire.
The She-wolf bronze had stood on the grounds for more than 120 years, after it was cast from the original for Harold Peto - the Edwardian architect and garden designer whose family acquired the manor in 1899.
William Cartwright-Hignett, the managing partner of Iford Manor Estate said, he is "devastated", adding that the theft is an "affront to heritage".
He said: "We spent our whole lives and existences with our team trying to maintain, preserve and enhance this beautiful place for the benefit of all of our visitors and future visitors for the heritage.
"It is devastating to see such iconic pieces which are very important to the design of the garden being stolen away in the night.
"This is an assault on everybody - everybody loves Iford. They come here they enjoy the tranquillity, the peacefulness and the atmosphere and it is the unique combination of statuary, design and plating and setting that makes Iford special.
"If they [statues] end up in a lay-by I will come and collect them."
Mr Cartwright-Hignett said it is a "mystery" how the heavy statues were removed overnight.
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The She-Wolf statue has stood on the Great Terrace for more than 120 years after it was cast from the original for Harold Peto.
Mr Cartwright-Hignett said: "It is a disaster to lose that piece for Iford.
"We are just guardians of this place in the next generation.
"It has been a bad week."
Raising awareness on Instagram, the Iford Manor account said: “Tragically this morning we woke up to discover that certain statues within the garden including our iconic She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus have been stolen in the night in the early hours of Friday morning in the middle of our jazz festival.
“We would urge anyone with any information to please contact the police, crime stoppers, or ourselves to try to return these iconic pieces to their homes where they belong.”
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: "We have launched an investigation after several statues were stolen from Ilford Manor, near Bradford-on-Avon.
"Sometime from Thursday night (June 19) into Friday morning, unknown suspects have broken into the property and stolen a number of items.
"Our enquiries into the incident are ongoing.
"If you witnessed any suspicious activity in the area between 10.45pm on Thursday evening and 8am on Friday morning, or if you have any information on the whereabouts of the items, please contact us.
"We would also urge any antique dealers or auction houses to look out for the items.
"You can leave information on 101 quoting reference 54250075348, or anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."
The Iford Manor is currently nominated for the Christies’ Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award.
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