A family has been left heartbroken after thieves stole a bronze memorial to a grandfather who died suddenly this year.

The elephant sculpture worth £1,400 was stolen from Nicci Baslington’s mum’s back garden in Lower Holt Street, Earl Colne, on Monday.

It was her dad’s favourite ornament at Poplar Nurseries in Marks Tey and the couple were waiting for their diamond anniversary to finally splash out on it.

But Mrs Baslington’s dad died unexpectedly on July 14 after a triple heart bypass, two months before the couple’s 59th anniversary.

The family decided to buy the elephant, which is a metre tall and half a metre wide, to remember him by but are now afraid to replace it.

Teacher Mrs Baslington, who lives next door to her mum, said: “The ornament meant a lot and me and the children would all think of dad when we passed it every day.

“Mum is very sad someone would do this as it was a very big comfort to her - she doesn’t want to replace it because she can’t face being upset again.

“I want as many people as possible to look out for it if it has not already been melted down in some scrap heap.

A builder working in the street saw a man loading the elephant into the back of a Ford Fiesta at about 11.30am and called Mrs Baslington, who had gone out with her mum an hour earlier.

Investigating officer PC Craig Peterson said: "This is quite a distinctive item and has enormous sentimental value to the elderly victim."

Contact PC Craig Peterson at Braintree Police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.