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Superlambanana split: quirky sculpture stolen from garden

a sculpture of a lamb crossed with a banana and brightly coloured

Police in the UK are on the trail of a Superlambanana after it was stolen from a garden.

The sculpture, a hybrid of a sheep and a banana which has become a symbol of Liverpool, was taken from the front garden of a home in Runcorn, a spokeswoman for Cheshire Constabulary said.

Thieves made off with the 76cm ornament, which is about 120cm long and painted with brightly coloured stripes and decorations, at about 11pm on 29 March, according to police.

The spokeswoman said: "The ornament has sentimental value to the family and they are keen for its return."

The Superlambanana was designed in 1998 by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo as part of the Artranspennine festival.

a sculpture of a lamb crossed with a banana and brightly coloured

The design is said to have been a comment on the potential dangers of genetic engineering, as well as representing some of the cargo which came through the city's port.

When Liverpool was made European Capital of Culture 2008 more than 100 of the sculptures were decorated by artists, groups and individuals and were displayed as part of a Go Superlambananas trail across the city.

Seventy of them were later auctioned off, with some of the items selling for more than #20,000.

A number of Superlambananas can still be seen across the city, including a 5.18m sculpture on Tithebarn Street which was painted in the colours of the Ukraine flag when the Eurovision Song Contest was held in 2023.