A CHAINSAW sculpture costing £900 has been destroyed at Helsby Quarry.

Made from wood found at the nature reserve, sculptures of a wolf and the head of a red kite bird have been cut off by a saw-wielding vandal.

Andrew Lorimer, of Friends of Helsby Quarry who warden and manage the site, said: “The beautiful chain saw sculpture, paid for at great expense by Vale Royal Borough Council, has been decimated.

“The cynic in me had said that it was only a matter of time before the sculpture was damaged, but I did not expect the vandals to come armed with a fine-tooth saw to neatly remove the complete wolf and the head of the kite.”

Helsby Quarry, on Alvanley Road, is a nature reserve on the site of a former sandstone quarry and was opened in 1990.

With the help of Helsby Cub group the bench was created by hainsaw artists Simon O’Rourke.

Cheshire West and Chester spokesman Ian Callister said: “The sculpture was part of a bench which was carved out of sycamore wood found on the site.

“It was created by internationally renowned carver Simon O’Rourke from Wrexham at a cost of about £900.

“The wolf has been stolen and the red kite has had its head sawn off. It was reported to the police.

“What we will be doing is to ask Mr O’Rourke to have a look at the bench, assess the damage and see what can be done to restore or replace the missing items.”

Anyone with any information about the stolen sculptures is asked to contact Helsby PCSO James Tapley on 01244 612 543 or email james.tapley@cheshire.pnn .police.uk.