THE owner of a Swanscombe pub is "devastated" after thieves stole a worthless wooden sculpture of Saint George riding a horse above an overpowered dragon.

The five-foot tall sculpture was moved from inside to the garden of the award-winning George and Dragon Pub in London Road over the busy Christmas period.

Bronwen Veal returned to work today (Jan 8) to the news it had been nicked sometime between Sunday evening and 4pm on Tuesday (Jan 7).

The 54-year-old said the sculpture is very heavy and would have required at least two or three people to lift.

She told the News Shopper: "It was a beautiful present bought for us by a friend a few years ago.

"It's a great loss for us. We are devastated about it. All our customers are so irate about it."

She added: "It's not really worth anything to anyone but us.We had somebody look at it off Antiques Roadshow. They reckon it was made out in Thailand and that it wasn't worth anything at all.

"We are looking through the CCTV but because of the terrible weather, it has been hard to get a clear picture."

If you know the whereabouts of George and his dragon call the pub on 01322 386440.