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An 8-foot gnome criticised for looking ‘hideous’ by Durham University students has vanished from a college garden.

The artwork which is more than 3m tall and glows in the dark was created for the Lumiere Festival which is held in Durham City in November.

However, after failing to be selected for the final event, the gnome and its partner piece - a ghost figurine currently visible from Framwellgate Bridge - went on display instead as part of the university’s Art Week which started on March 9.

To the astonishment of its creator, artist Goshka Bialek, the gnome was bundled out of its tranquil spot in the college’s Masters Garden over the weekend.

The 55-year-old said: “It was meant to be really ugly. I wanted a reaction. I heard the students call it hideous and ugly. They made jokes about it and that’s what I wanted. I expected that reaction but I didn’t expect it to be taken.

“It’s a big gnome and very visible because it had all these sparkly lights. I don’t know how anyone has managed to get it out of the garden when it’s all lit up.”

The piece’s installation called Echoes of the Lumiere was funded by University College master Professor David Held.

The gnome and ghost were created by Goshka and students of the university in a series of classes held last year and is made out of wood and metal.

Goshka is an internationally renowned artists whose most famous piece is a glass sculpture created for the main altar in Durham Cathedral.

If anyone has seen the missing gnome or knows where it is please contact police on 101.

And please share this story on Facebook or Twitter to help reunite the gnome safely with his garden companions, using the hashtag #gnomeproblem

Other bizarre thefts in recent years

We've trawled our archive for even more strange theft stories from down the years... here are a few:

Vandal steals penalty and centre spots from Blyth Spartans' pitch

The thief who stole 55 items from Somerfield supermarket - including 18 joints of lamb and beef

Robbers who pilfered 144 pairs of socks from a store in Killingworth

"Rob the Builder": in 2009, a Bob the Builder fairground ride valued at £3,500 was taken from outside a photo shop.

The 2011 theft of more than 100 door knockers from around Newcastle.

In 2009, a woman snatched a string of bizarre items on a city centre shoplifting spree - among the swag swiped were 30 pairs of socks, a shirt and a model duck.

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