"Bizarre" sign theft from model village

5:30pm Thursday 2nd October 2008

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A LARGE sign advertising a popular south Bucks tourist attraction has gone missing from its entrance.

An eight ft by four ft framed poster was unscrewed from a fence outside Bekonscot Model Village and Railway, in Warwick Road, Beaconsfield.

Now staff fear profits, which are donated to charities and organisations, will be cut if the sign is not found because a replacement will cost £300.

Maura Buckland, marketing manager at the model village, said she was amazed by the theft of the sign, showing a windmill and two children playing.

He said: “Because of its size and weight, it would certainly have needed two to three people to carry it.

“It really isn’t of any use to anybody else and was something that wasn’t going to be changed yet.

“The money really would have to come out of our profits.”

Managing director Brian Newman-Smith described the incident as “totally bizarre”.

He said: “Whether someone thought it was aluminium and an eight by four sheet I don’t know.”

Staff, who have been searching nearby roads for the sign, noticed it was missing when leaving work on Tuesday.

It follows a spate of incidents involving signs for the model village. Earlier this year a car park board was taken and discovered by a member of the public in the Farnham area.

Then, in June, a road sign to the attraction was changed to point to “incinerator village” in protest at a now dropped plan to place a burner in south Bucks.

Mrs Buckland said she did not believe they were linked.

She added: “I can’t think why anyone would stop and unscrew the sign and go off with it. It’s a pretty hefty size. It’s just a pity that somebody felt they needed to take it.”

Thames Valley Police spokesman Pierre du Bois said the force was aware of the theft and is investigating.

If you have any information call police on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.