LITTLE Bo Peep has lost her sheep - after vandals targeted a display at a scarecrow festival.

The sheep was taken from the nursery rhyme character at the Tanfield scarecrow event on Friday evening.

Almost 70 scarecrows were on show in an around the village over the weekend and included a witch, Andy Capp and Flo, Paddington Bear and a fisherman and mermaid.

Bo Peep has been near the top of Sleep Valley bank on the outskirts of the village.

In previous years damage has been caused to Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins and Bert.

Villagers awoke on Monday (September 14) to find a man playing bowls had also been taken

Councillor Joyce Charlton, who represents the area on Durham County Council, said: “It is just idiots being idiots. There were lots of people out enjoying themselves over the weekend, but some people just love to spoil a community event. It is not going to stop us putting it on.”

The annual event raised money for the local food bank, Village in Bloom committee and St Margaret’s Church.