The owners of a stolen hand-carved rocking horse have appealed for its return.

The stunning item, made from dark brown ash, was taken from a van on a driveway in Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, sometime between last Friday night and Saturday morning.

It belongs to the granddaughter of Tom and Mary Appleton who had stored it in a van overnight as it was being taken for display at a craft fair.

Mr Appleton created the rocking horse, which is thought to be worth about £1,500 and features a mane and tail made from real horse hair, eight years ago.

Mrs Appleton said when it was being loaded into the van, a man approached and reportedly said of the horse, “my wife would love one of those”.

She said: “My husband made it for our first granddaughter and it has a lot of sentimental value.”

If you have any information which could lead to its return, please call the police on 101, quoting crime reference XY/023309/13.