A garden statues theft in Blackpool at the end of last week was notable for the loss of one statue formerly owned by morose 1970s comedy legend Les Dawson.

Sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning, thieves cut through a five foot galvanized steel fence at a garden statue wholesalers in the popular holiday resort and took three statues with a total value of £1,350. One of these was a four foot, white marble Venus, which used to stand by the side of the swimming pool in the St Annes home of Les and Tracy Dawson.

A £500 reward for the safe return of the garden statues has been offered, and police are currently examining the stockists' CCTV records.

A police spokesman told the local paper that the force was currently investigating the incident, adding: “Inquiries are underway and we would appeal for anyone with any information about these statues to contact the police by calling our non-emergency telephone number 101.”