A PIECE of public art much loved by ramblers has been stolen.

Thieves have taken the 7ft carved wooden stile that marked a woodland path through Walters Wood at Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Money to pay for the stile, which was designed by local artist Phil Townsend and was installed two years ago, was raised by Ouston and Urpeth conservation volunteers.

Joyce Higgins, leading member of the volunteer group, said that the money was granted by trust funds. She said: "We don't have an exact figure of how much the whole thing cost, but the main thing is it was a lovely sculpture and we want it back. Everybody who saw it really liked it and it is a real shame."

The stile was adorned with carvings which depict woodland animals found in the area. The pathway was opened by TV celebrity and conservationist David Bellamy in 1998.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police at the nearby village of Pelton.