POLICE are hunting thieves who stole a whole VILLAGE. The series of lovingly made scale models were taken from a Westhoughton garden. They were the result of more than nine years of painstaking work by 70 year old Brian Egan, of Clive Road, Daisy Hill. Stone built scale models of a two storey house, cottage and water-wheel, church with a tall spire, cottage with stone chimney, an oast-house and a replica of the church at St Michael's on the Wyre were all taken from outside his home.

Mr Egan, 70, said: "I'm very upset. It's nine or 10 years of work all gone."

He added: "These are very distinctive models and I just hope someone will know where they are and help get them back." Mr Egan now only has a small number of his models left, unless the stolen village is recovered. Anyone with information should call police on 0161 872 5050.

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