The congregation of a West Lothian church are “praying for the safe return” of a statue of the Virgin Mary that was stolen.
The figurine of Our Lady was taken from its plinth outside St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Linlithgow.
During the Second World War the area was used to house Polish soldiers who eracted a shrine to the Virgin Mary at the church.
The church’s priest, Very Rev Canon Paul Kelly, said everyone involved with the church is upset at the loss of the statue and is urging whoever took it to bring it back.
He said the statue disappeared on June 14, the day after Linlithgow Marches, describing it as “a very disappointing and upsetting incident.”
He continued: “We are praying for its safe return.
“It was the Thursday morning after the Marches that we noticed it was gone, so it had probably been the Wednesday night it was stolen.
“It’s worth very little, it’s fibreglass, it has no value really, I can’t see why anybody would want to take it, unless it’s some kind of religious fanatic.
“But it has huge symbolic value.
“It could be a bit of anti-Catholic bigotry – I think it was quite carefully planned.
“There’s really nothing anyone can do with it, so I’m hoping whoever has it will bring it back.”
People in Linlithgow have reacted with anger at the theft of the statue.
It comes just months after vandals daubed graffiti on nearby Linlithgow Palace.
Murdoch Kennedy said: “I thought the recent desecration at the Palace was bad enough, but this really is a very low blow!”
Geraldine Owens said: “Let’s hope whoever is guilty has a change of heart, returns it or anonymously let’s someone know where this beautiful statue of Our Lady is.”
Irene Duncan added: “Absolutely awful and so sad! Praying it is returned.”
And Simon-Kirstie Constable said: “What is wrong with Linlithgow at the moment? Seems to be at the mercy of a feral bunch of youths.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On the morning of Thursday, June 15, police received a report of the theft of a statue from a church in the Blackness Road area of Linlithgow.
“Enquiries into the matter are ongoing and anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, quoting incident 1586
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