Arsonists burn wicker man

Artist Serena De La Hey hopes to rebuild the figure

The country's largest willow figure, dubbed the Wicker Man, has been destroyed in an arson attack.

The 12-metre tall figure, which stood in a field beside the M5 near Bridgwater, Somerset, was set alight in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The statue, which also became known as the Angel of the South, was created by artist Serena De La Hey and cost £15,000 to construct.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward, and say they are keeping an open mind as to the reason behind the attack.

What do you do, surround it with barbed wire and electrocute people?

Serena De La Hey
Artist

Miss De La Hey, who built the statue with funding from South West Arts, a local authority and supermarket chain Sainsbury's, said she had been devastated at first on hearing the news.

"Lots of things go through your mind, " she said.

"There's a degree of anger, why someone should be bothered destroying something like that.

"It's such a local project, that it doesn't just affect me. It's become increasingly popular, it's a very positive symbol for Somerset."

Public appeal

She added that, with support from South West Arts, she hoped to rebuild the statue.

But she said there was little more that could be done to protect a replacement from vandalism.

"What can we do?" she said. "It's on private land, affected by foot-and-mouth - what do you do, surround it with barbed wire and electrocute people?"

The figure, which took three weeks to create, used willow woven over a steel framework and was expected to last around three years. The steel framework survived.

Police said they were keeping an open mind as to the reason behind the arson attack.

Officers want to hear from anyone with information who used the motorway, especially between junctions 23 and 24.

They also hope to trace a cyclist seen riding along the hard shoulder of the M5.