FEARS are growing that a beloved statue stolen from a Billericay park has been “lost forever” one month after it was taken.

The Child in the Park sculpture was stolen from Lake Meadows park on September 1, with residents devastated it had been pulled from its plinth.

Friends of Lake Meadows, an independent charity which helps care for the park, confirmed the 24-year-old statue has yet to be returned, while its details have been reported to the British Metals Recycling Association to prevent it being scrapped.

It dates back 24 years and has been ever present in the park since - aside from when it was stolen in 2017 before being ultimately returned.

Conservative councillor for Billericay East, Andy Barnes, confirmed police are investigating but believes the artwork is likely lost and the council may have to consider replacing it.

He said: “It’s obviously what we feared, we were very lucky to find it last time and it was always going to be unlikely that we would be able to recover it. I think it’s something that people enjoyed as a public monument, something that was there for the community. The fact that it’s gone upsets people greatly, they are very disappointed that it’s gone.

“I suspect it’s very likely that it’s been melted down. I imagine it will be very hard to trace it.

“I haven’t given up all hope. I felt the same as most people, disappointed, angry, it just seems a real waste.”

The statue was designed by artist John Doubleday, Charles Novis, chair of the Friends of Lake Meadows, who has been a member since 2012, said: “The children for many years have loved the statue and the animals that were on it, it’s not a lie to say some children have shed tears over it not being there.

“It’s certainly going to be a big miss. Having been involved in getting it put up there, it hurts a lot to see it gone.

“It would be a great delight to see it back. There were many people who said how disappointed they were over the disappearance and the disgust they felt for the act.”

Rosie Novis, secretary of the Friends, said “Many members of the local community, of all ages, are heartbroken at the loss of our beautiful statue and hope that whoever took it will soon return it to the park or leave it in a safe place where it can be found.”