Paddington Bear statue decapitated in Shoreditch
@wossy – It could’ve been your Paddington! Raise awareness of the #FindHisHead campaign! #PaddingtonTrail pic.twitter.com/n1FPPbHqQF
— Barry Hemmons (@bazpoint) December 23, 2014
The statue on Curtain Road, called “Maya’s Bear” after its 13 year-old creator, is part of a National Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) campaign to raise funds for the charity’s work against child abuse.
It is one of around 50 bears that form a trail across London and it is believed to have been beheaded on Saturday night.
Twitter users have launched a ‘#FindHisHead‘ campaign to find the head.
Help! Someone has stolen Paddington’s head in #Shoreditch! Please help us #FindHisHead #PaddingtonTrail http://t.co/8grjV9FkHC
— NSPCC (@NSPCC) December 23, 2014
An NSPCC spokesman told the Independent: “As we are in party season someone might well have thought it was a bit of fun to remove Paddington’s head.
“However they should be aware that this figure and many others are being auctioned to raise money for our services which help children who have been abused.
“It was also designed by a young girl who was absolutely delighted when it was chosen to go on display and will undoubtedly be upset about what’s happened.
“We are currently assessing the damage to see if the situation can be retrieved. But in the meantime if there is someone out there with a guilty conscience who wants to make a donation to the NSPCC they can find us at nspcc.org.uk.”