Vandals behead garden's giraffe

The giraffe was crafted for a decade to reach 10ft tall

A life-sized topiary giraffe that had become a local landmark in a village in Kent has been decapitated by vandals.

The foliage sculpture which stood 10ft (3m) looking over a garden wall in Boughton Lees near Ashford was attacked overnight leaving a 3ft (0.9m) stump.

Frank Edwards, who had spent a decade growing and crafting the giraffe called Geraldine, said she was "loved by many children" and popular with walkers.

The head was found standing upright on a roundabout in a neighbouring village.

Mr Edwards said: "I'm upset but I'm remarkably calm about it. I think it was just a matter of time before someone took it.

"It was a lovely thing to do - I did it as a bit of a joke and sadly it is no more.

"It's not exactly the end of the world but she was apparently loved by many children, and she certainly amused hundreds of walkers."

Mr Edwards said he discovered it was missing when a woman knocked on his door on Wednesday morning to tell him the giraffe's head and neck were in the neighbouring village of Challock.

Mr Edwards, who also has a topiary goose in his garden, said he hoped to grow another giraffe from the stump.

Kent Police have been informed of the incident.