VANDALS pulled a half-ton ship's anchor from an award-winning display in an apparent bid to sell it on for scrap.
The police have launched an investigation after the 100-year-old sailing boat anchor was removed from the Good Ship Lollipop flower bed on Cleethorpes seafront and dragged about 20m before being abandoned.
The anchor weighs more than half a ton and was firmly concreted into the bed. Owner Borge Nejrup believes it must have taken four strong men to remove it.
He believes they were trying to steal it to sell on for scrap, but gave up when they could not lift the heavy object into their get-away vehicle.
He is devastated at the damage to the display, which won him Cleethorpes In Bloom Business of the Year Award last year.
Mr Nejrup owns the Lollipop Express road train on Cleethorpes seafront, and the flowerbed, made from recycled materials, is part of the attraction.
He said: "We did this to help make Cleethorpes look beautiful and to give something back to the resort; it is absolutely devastating.
"If it was just a bunch of vandals they would have pulled up the flowers – this looks like it was planned.
"They must have pulled it out using a vehicle and then dragged it across the ground. Who would want to ruin this display for the sake of a few quid? It makes no sense."
The incident happened overnight on Friday, as the Lollipop Express returned to the resort following a winter break.
There is a security camera nearby, but it points in the direction of the leisure centre, which stands in front of the display, so no images were captured.
Mr Nejrup said: "It couldn't have happened at a worse time. I have been trying to get everything ready for the train's first ride and now this.
"But I am happy they didn't manage to steal it completely."
He contacted Bob Callison, his friend and the chairman of Cleethorpes In Bloom, who arrived with his van to return the anchor to its rightful place.
Mr Nejrup added: "Nothing like this has ever happened before. When we first put the anchor there six years ago, I was worried someone would come along and vandalise it. They have proved me right."
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Humberside Police on 101, quoting crime reference number AE/1958074/2013.
