A reward of £2,000 is being offered for the recovery of Wingfield’s 93-year-old bronze statue of Christ which was stolen from the village’s First World War memorial.

The statue, worth an estimated £10,000, was taken overnight on February 28 from the wooden memorial at the A366 and B3109 crossroads, leaving villagers upset and angry.

Management of Forces War Records, based in Bradford Road, Melksham, which helps people find out about ancestors who fought, have offered half of the reward for the statue’s recovery or for information leading to a conviction.

Neil White, Forces War Records’ web manager, said: “It is absolutely sickening to see something like this happen, especially with this year being the First World War’s centenary.

“We take a lot of pride in that war memorial being close to us.

“We wanted to help in any way we could.”

The statue, which was going to be restored this year, was commissioned by the great-grandfather of Wingfield Parish Council chairman Michael Copland-Griffiths, and designed by his great aunt.

Cllr Copland-Griffiths’ business, Wingfield Chiropractic Clinic, is offering the other half of the reward.

He said: “It is tragic that someone could do this.

“The reward offered by Forces War Records restores one’s faith in humanity.

“On behalf of my own business, I have offered to add a further £1,000 to the reward pot.”

Anyone with information relating to the theft can call Wiltshire Police on 101.