Farm's 200-year-old stone wheel stolen

A large stone wheel, believed to be more than 200 years old, has been stolen.

The 2ft-wide (0.6m) piece, which is made from sandstone, was taken from a garden outside Low Walton Farm, in St Bees, Cumbria.

Police said its owner believed the theft took place between 15:30 GMT on 11 November and 07:00 GMT the following day.

A reward has been offered for the wheel's safe return.

It was originally used as a sharpening stone for farming equipment and was sat on a solid wooden oak stand, which was left behind by whoever took it.

Speaking to Nishma Hindocha on BBC Radio Cumbria, owner Victoria Dixon, 43, said she and husband Chris had tried to move the wheel in the past but it was too heavy.

She said they had contacted reclamation yards and were told people used them as part of stone walls or as water features.

Mrs Dixon added: "On Monday, I was there with my uncle. We were admiring it, how historic it is and how it suits the property it has always sat alongside.

"It's at a property we rent out, and on Tuesday morning a new tenant moved in.

"They called us to say thanks for moving the stone, thinking we'd moved it for safety reasons as they have a small child - and we had to admit we hadn't.

"We all loved having a piece of history in the garden. Now its gone, the whole family are devastated and we would just love to have it back."

A neighbour said they saw a man in a blue or purple people carrier looking around the area in the days before the theft.

The wheel is believed to weigh around 13 stone (83kg) and has an iron handle attached to its centre point.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cumbria Police.

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