A 170-YEAR-OLD foot scraper has gone walkabout from a back garden, leaving its owner fuming.

The historic stone and wrought iron scraper, which dates back to 1824, was spotted by Jim Heap almost 30 years ago.

It was among the rubble of the former Wesleyan Chapel, demolished to make way for St John's Methodist Church, Albert Road, Colne.

Jim, who has been connected to the Methodist church for 76 years since he was a baby, was caretaker of the chapel at the time and rescued the scraper from the rubbish heap.

Since then it has held pride of place in the back garden of his house in Chapel Street, Colne, then his current home in Earl Street, until a thief walked off with it on Sunday. "I happened to be walking past the chapel when it was being pulled down and saw the scraper in the rubble," explained Jim. "I've had it ever since then but never really appreciated what an unusual and historic item it was until now.

"I'm very annoyed. I suppose I should have been more careful with it but didn't think anyone would steal it. Nobody could see it unless they actually came into the yard."

Jim consulted local historian Geoff Crambie who told him the scraper's historical significance.

It is understood it was one of only a handful of similar articles in the country. Mr Crambie said it was difficult to put a price on the unusual item but it could be worth between £200 and £300.

The scraper has a 15-inch square stone base with wrought iron work on top. The police have been informed about the theft.

Anyone who has any information about the incident or who knows the whereabouts of the artefact is asked to contact police on 01282 863161.

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