By Jenny Barwise

Last updated at 11:37, Friday, 22 June 2012

A statue of a barber which sparked a heated row among Cockermouth townsfolk has been stolen.

Amir Jojo with the statue

Residents complained in the past about the statue of the traditional New Orleans black barber, which was outside of the Original Barber Company on Market Street, claiming it was inciting racial hatred.

But shop owner Amir Jojo hit back at the claims, saying he was not racist and the statue, known as Walter, had become a tourist attraction.

During the early hours of yesterday Walter was swiped from outside the shop and police are now hunting the thieves. CCTV footage shows a man running away from the scene with Walter under his arm at around 12.40am.

Officers say the molded fibreglass statue is valuable and describe it as being 5ft 11in, wearing a trilby hat, white shirt, a red and white striped waistcoat, white gloves and black spats.

Anyone with information should contact Cockermouth police on 101.

First published at 11:27, Friday, 22 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk