A DISTRAUGHT artist is appealing for help after two treasured bronzes which were created for a dying man were stolen.

Adrienne Seed created the unusual sculptures for Dr Brian Mercer, the founder of Netlon, as he was coming to the end of his fight against cancer.

Dr Mercer, of Meins Road, Blackburn, was an art collector and friend of Adrienne's who encouraged her to take up sculpture.

Adrienne worked on the pieces next to Dr Mercer's bedside as he became more and more ill and even worked round the clock to try to finish them before he died.

On the night he died Adrienne was with him and sent his driver to pick up the finished sculptures.

But by the time he returned Dr Mercer had died without ever seeing the finished pieces.

Now she is devastated that the statues have been stolen from a foundry in Birmingham and is offering a £500 reward for their safe return.

Adrienne, of Blackburn, said: "When we found out Dr Mercer had terminal cancer I started making the sculptures especially for him and I was so upset that he never got to see the finished work.

"After his death I decided to exhibit the bronzes and they went to a foundry in Birmingham to wait to be moved to an exhibition in Bath. While they were there the foundry wasbroken into and they and other artworks were stolen.

"I just hoped somebody recognises them and has seen them somewhere so I may have a chance of getting them back."

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