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Monkey grave theft is a real head-scratcher

28/ 7/2006

THE mysterious disappearance of an historic gravestone has left Littleborough folk scratching their heads.

The stone memorial to a pet monkey - a popular attraction which dates from the late 1800s - was snatched from Hare Hill Park late last Friday night.

The theft has baffled council staff and park volunteers.

Chris Flintoff, the council's service manager for parks and countryside, has informed the police.

He said: "It is a real tragedy. I can't understand why anyone would do such a thing. We have just got Green Flag status and somebody, somewhere has robbed Hare Hill of a piece of its history.

"The grave was a real attraction for the kids and a symbol of Littleborough's heritage. There was rarely a time when there wasn't any flowers placed there and we are very, very upset about it. If someone damages a bench we can repair it but this can't be replaced."

It is believed the monkey was the pet of the Newall family - the first owners of Hare Hill House, who sold the park to Littleborough Urban District Council in 1901.

The two-foot-high stone dates from the late 1800s and is inscribed with the monkey's name, Mephisto.

The news comes in the wake of Hare Hill becoming the first park in the borough to gain Green Flag status - the government benchmark for quality green spaces.

It has led Helen Kelsall, secretary of the Friends of Hare Hill Park, to call for security to be stepped up.

She said: "All we know is that it was taken some time on Friday evening. It is extremely sad and we are desperate to find out what happened.

"Our next aim is to improve security in the park, whether through CCTV or stepping up patrols by the neighbourhood safety wardens. It is disappointing because a lot of people have put a lot of hard work in to gain the Green Flag.

"We are trying to get whatever information we can and we would ask anyone who knows where it is to get in touch with the council or the police."