THIEVES have stolen a knitted sheep which was created for a wool festival – but the organisers said the incident will not spoil the celebration.
Sudeley the sheep was tied to the gate of St Peter's Church in Winchcombe as part of the town's wool festival.
However, it seems Sudeley has been kidnapped as he has disappeared from the gate.
Jane Smoczynski, the organiser of the Wool in Winchcombe festival, is now appealing for his safe return, and said she will not hold a grudge against the thief.
She said: "The bandits can pull the wool over our eyes. We will declare a l-amnesty for the safe return of Sudeley."
Sudeley was placed at the church by 'yarn bombers' – mystery people who decorated Winchcombe with their knitted creations during the cover of darkness for the festival.
Jane said: "The yarn bombers went to a lot of effort to bring a smile to the faces of townsfolk and visitors with their knitted creations.
"It's a shame if someone's late-night home-from-the-pub prank deprives everyone else of a bit of light-hearted joy."
Jane said the theft of Sudeley would not spoil the festival, which started on April 13 and runs until May 4. It has returned this spring after the success of the initial event last year, and celebrates Winchcombe as a historic wool town.
There will be exhibitions and opportunities to buy work by local artists.
One of the most popular events, the Big Knit, takes place this Saturday from 2pm at St Peter's Church, with visitors invited to bring their own knitting or knit a square for the charity, Samaritan's Purse.
Jane, who owns the Winds of Change gallery, revealed that she did know the identity of the yarn bombers, and said their decorations look "lovely".
Pupils at Winchcombe Abbey CofE School have been busy making different crafts to go on display during the festival.
Year 10 pupils are creating a blanket which will be on display at St Peter's Church.
