Emin sparrow goes missing again

The sculpture sits atop a 4m (13ft) pole

Tracey Emin's small bronze sparrow sculpture has gone missing from its Liverpool perch for a second time.

The bird forms part of the artwork The Roman Standard, which features the 10cm (4in) sparrow on a 4m (13ft) pole near the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool.

It went missing in July, only to be returned by an anonymous caller who telephoned BBC Radio Merseyside days later, telling them its whereabouts.

A spokesman for the cathedral has confirmed the pole is now empty again.

The artwork was commissioned by the BBC for the art05 festival three years ago.

'No harm meant'

After its first disappearance there was some dispute as to who owned the sculpture and was responsible for it.

The BBC said although they commissioned the sculpture, they do not own it.

"This is covered by White Cube gallery and the artist," a spokesman said at the time.

The White Cube gallery, when contacted on Friday, did not wish to comment.

When the bird went missing in July, the message left at the BBC said the £60,000 sculpture had been left in the grounds of The Oratory on Upper Duke Street.

It was then found in an envelope marked "FAO Tracey Emin: URGENT!"

A note inside read: "We are sorry - No harm meant. We would have returned it sooner but we were scared xxx."