POLICE are appealing for information after a bronze pig statue, which commemorates the Harris pork and bacon company was stolen.

During the evening of Sunday, October 1, and the early hours of Monday, October 2, a bronze pig statue, which is property of Calne Town Council, was stolen from Phelps Parade, Calne.

Officers from Wiltshire North Community Policing Team covering Calne are now investigating the incident, and CCTV images from the local area are being reviewed.

PCSO Mark Cook said: "I was deeply saddened to see that the Calne pig statue has been stolen overnight.

"The statue represents the part of the town's heritage, and has been an integral part of the history and daily life of the people of Calne.

"We are working closely with Calne Town Council CCTV in regards to this theft and will progress any lines of enquiry to trace the persons responsible for this act.

"The jointly-funded Wiltshire Police CCTV van will be deployed into Calne town centre for the foreseeable future to increase the CCTV coverage in the town."

C&T Harris (Calne) was founded in 1770 and when it closed in 1983 was employing more than 2,000 people out of a town population of 10,000.

The statue was made by Richard Cowdy, to celebrate the link between Calne and the Harris company, whose factories were demolished in 1984.

Calne mayor Tony Trotman said: "Obviously as mayor I am absolutely distraught.

"I cannot believe people would take this away, or not be seen to take it away.

"How on earth could it have happened? I can't believe this is going on right in the middle of the town. I am disappointed."

Calne town councillor Mike Macgregor-Fairlie said: "The pigs represent significant history of Calne.

"It is an absolute disgrace someone would want to steal something which is such a big part of the town."

Anyone with information should call 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.