Police officer scarecrow stolen
A scarecrow which had been helping to put the brakes on motorists through a County Durham village has been stolen.
Stella Anderson made the scarecrow, and dressed it as a policewoman holding a speed gun, as a competition entry for the Middleton-in-Tees carnival.
She put 'Nancy' at the end of her drive where it had the unexpected effect of making drivers slow down.
But now Mrs Anderson says Nancy has been stolen by a gang who bundled her into a car.
Nancy won a huge amount of attention during her short tour of duty.
Mrs Anderson said: "She went about five o'clock (1700 BST) on Thursday.
"I was on the phone when the doorbell rang and my neighbour said she had seen the scarecrow being taken. It had been bundled into a car.
"The world we are in - I just don't know what their motives were. I am sorry, it's a sad end. But we have got some pictures."
It wasn't the only mishap to befall Nancy. Earlier in the week she had to be taken down for a few days to be repaired after she was decapitated.
Mrs Anderson said she had been surprised by all the attention the scarecrow had received.
She said: "I made it for the scarecrow competition and it just developed. It took me aback a little bit. People thought it was a good idea.
"People have thought it was a speed cop. It has cut down speeding."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3543232.stm