RUSTLERS have stolen a concrete sheep from a front garden in Amersham.

The lamb disappeared from Lea and Graham Chapman's home in Hillcrest Court overnight on Saturday.

It is one of a flock of six sheep owned by the Chapman family, which have proved to be very popular with schoolchildren who walk past them.

Mr Chapman, a 64-year-old school caretaker, said: “Our initial reaction was to be really saddened people like that are in Amersham.

“My wife and I are of the old school – we'd expect, if you leave property outside, for people not to steal it.

“It's not valuable but to replace it is difficult.”

Mr Chapman, a grandfather, had to make three trips to transport all the sheep to Amersham when the family moved from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, in July.

He said he put the sheep on the front communal area to make it look more interesting. “It was something to brighten up the place,” he said. “We're trying to make a nice place look nicer.”

Mr Chapman added: “We expect to get many comments from children and mums who walk past on their way to school or the shops.

“Some give them names and every child that walks past comments on them. Some speak to them. They're very popular.”

The sheep were bought from a manufacturer on the Isle of Sheppey, 90 miles away. It does not deliver or sell their goods through other garden centres.

Mr Chapman said the sheep had either been taken as a prank or they were stolen.

But he added anyone trying to carry it away for a laugh “wouldn't be able to carry it any further than 100 yards” because it is so heavy.

“I have searched everywhere and I have to come to the conclusion someone has stolen it.”

He added there were “several” empty beer cans outside a nearby shop and a mark on the wall of the flats where someone had appeared to have urinated.

He said there had been no problems with crime in the past fortnight, although youngsters often used a flat stairwell to drink and smoke.

Mr Chapman has appealed for the safe return of the lamb and asked for anyone with information to email him on sheep@somerleyton-green.co.uk.