HISTORIAN John Girvan has appealed for help to find a metal plaque that forms a central part of the Devizes Medieval Trail after it was stolen from a churchyard.

Mr Girvan and others from the Trust for Devizes are upset that the zinc plaque that has been positioned in St John's churchyard for about 12 years disappeared sometime in January.

It forms part of a 4.5 mile medieval walk around the town that was originally commissioned by Kennet District Council after it was given a grant from the European Union.

After the district council was dissolved responsibility for the trail was taken over by the trust and it now faces paying out hundreds of pounds to get a new plaque made.

Mr Girvan said: "We are very upset this plaque, which is number five in the trail, has been taken. This trail is particularly aimed at children and without this plaque it will not be the same.

"It is a very good route which shows off the best of the town's Medieval buildings."

Philippa Morgan from the trust said the problem was highlighted at a meeting last week. She said: "We would like to make a last plea to people for it to be returned or for readers to let us know if they have any idea as to who took it and where it might be. The re-sale value of the plaque is very small but it will cost us quite a lot of money to have a new one made."

It is estimated a new plaque will cost at least £300. Mr Girvan said it was the first time one of the 12 plaques has gone missing. He said: "One at Hillworth Road was damaged but we managed to repair that.

"Occasionally they do get pulled from a wall but this is the first time was has actually been taken."

The walk starts close to the bridge over the former railway near St John's where you can see the Castle and ends in the Market Place.

Experts say the highlight of the tour are the area close to the church and the timber-framed and stone built homes on the perimeter of the old Castle's outer bailey.