BOLTON'S new £30,000 brightly-coloured elephants have been uprooted and taken away by the council due to acts of vandalism.

The new elephant sculptures replaced the old grey ones that had stood in Newport Street, Bolton, since the early 1980s.

But they have suffered damage - with one of them, Ellie the purple elephant, thought to be beyond repair.

There are large cracks in the trunk and head and other parts of the body.

The Council has decided to remove all three elephants because the other two have been loosened from their bases.

A statement from Bolton Council said: "We are extremely dissapointed that something like this should happen so soon after the new elephants were installed."

The new herd of elephants had been given a warm welcome by shoppers in the town centre.

The old grey herd which dated back to the early 1980s had also suffered vandalism.

The new models proved an instant hit with young and old alike - although some people winced at their cost.

They were designed by three school pupils who won a Bolton Council competition entered by more than 1,500 children.

The sculptures are made out of Jesmonite, a durable, weatherproof and environmentally friendly material.

An "elephant trail" will launched across the town centre later this month to celebrate their arrival.

Their predecessors have been placed in storage while new homes are found for them.

Jean Melling, aged 66, of Hunger Hill, said: "They are nice. They are very colourful and a bit brighter than the old ones. I think the town centre needs brightening up."

Elaine Mackrael, aged 33, and her two-year-old son, Stevie, of Horwich, were also impressed. Elaine said: "I don't know about £30,000 but they brighten the place up and are a part of Bolton's history.

"Stevie loves them because he has a book about an elephant called Elmer."

Diane Ainsworth, aged 48, of Stoneclough, who admired the herd with her daughter Jade, aged nine, said: "They are nice and colourful. It's something for you to stop and look at with your children when you're out shopping."

Jean Wignall, aged 77, of Doffcocker, said: "They are beautiful. The other ones were okay and you could sit on them but they had had their day.

People might find these a bit sharp to sit on but maybe that's the idea, to stop people climbing on them and causing damage."

Christopher Graham, aged 24, of Little Lever, said: "I grew up with the grey elephants and am pining for them but they were in a bad state and these are smashing. They have a very Eastern feel to them, perhaps they are supposed to represent multi-cultural Bolton."

Patrick Kerrigan, aged 36, of Great Lever, said: "I think £30,000 was a bit much but they are a bit different and a lot brighter than the old ones which were a bit dated."