Thieves used a hand cart to steal two valuable lead statues from a stately home.

The almost nude figures were taken from Jacobean Godinton House near Ashford on Monday night.

The one is a figure of a nude dancing man, and is 57 inches tall. The other is a female muse, standing at 49 inches. Both date from the 18th century.

They are thought to have been bought by the Ashley Dodd family when Sir Reginald Blomfield redesigned the gardens in 1896.

One of the tenants at the Jacobean stately home discovered the statues missing.

The thieves are believed to have carefully planned the theft, using a hand cart to wheel the statues across the fields.

They then lifted them over fences, breaking a small piece off in the process.

Nick Sandford, the estate manager, said, “This charming pair of lead figures date back to the 18 century and have been at Godinton for at least 100 years.

"They form the focal point at the end of the tennis lawn, with the male dancing figure clearly showing off to the young lady, who is looking coyly at his almost naked form.

"They are irreplaceable and our great hope is they might be recovered. It would be a tragedy if they were simply destroyed for scrap value."

The theft is the second time these statues have been targeted; about 30 years ago another attempt was made, but failed.

They were pulled off their plinths but abandoned, either because they were too heavy or the thieves were disturbed.

The statues were restored seven years ago, and they had been re-fixed and alarmed.

Viv Hunt, the head gardener at Godinton, said, “The loss of these statues from the gardens is very saddening and will be irreplaceable.

"Quite apart from the fact that they are very valuable to the trust and the oldest statues in the garden, they have been an integral part of the gardens design for many years and the joyful figures have raised the spirits of many visitors”.

Robin Edwards, regional director of the Country, Land and business Association (CLA), which runs the house, said: “Rural areas present the greatest opportunity for thieves.

"Isolated houses and buildings, less illumination and fewer witnesses all add up to an attractive target.

"So as a community we need to be prepared and aware while keeping the Police as informed as possible.”

Members of the public are being urged to contact the police, or Nick Sandford at Godinton on 01233 632652.