Inquiry after sculpture destroyed

The artwork was created in 1998

Managers at a visitor centre in the North Yorks Moors National Park say they are "deeply upset" after vandals destroyed a courtyard sculpture.

Individual bronze pieces representing symbols and sites related to the park were sawn off, causing the artwork's limestone map to crack.

North Yorkshire Police are investigating the vandalism at the Sutton Bank National Park Centre.

Managers said the sculpture could not be repaired.

The sculpture was created in 1998 by sixth form students from Thirsk and Easingwold Schools, working with sculptor Chris Kelly.

It showed the route of the Cleveland Way National Trail.

Jaqui Abrahamsen, the park authority's visitor centres manager, said: "This sculpture was much-loved by both staff and visitors so we are deeply upset and angry that someone has chosen to carry out such a deliberate act of destruction.

"With more than half of the bronze sculptures stolen and the remaining severely damaged, there is no hope of repairing the piece and the centre will lose one of its most talked about and admired features."