Thieves use machinery to steal 40 metres of handcarved stone from Grade II-listed wall in Yorkshire village

Organised thieves have used plant machinery to steal 40 metres of carved stone from a Grade II-listed historic wall.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed that they removed the dressed stone from the top of the wall that surrounds parkland near the village of Forcett, near Richmond, that is part of the Forcett Hall estate.

The theft, which is being treated as a heritage crime, was reported on June 3 but could have taken place days earlier..

It was discovered by Forcett Park owner Paul Hodgson, managing director of Dales ice cream parlour Brymor - who now fears that the operation was a 'job to order' and that the criminals could return for more of the 300-year-old stonework.

Mr Hodgson's land includes 228 acres of woods, parkland and a lake, though the Grade I-listed Forcett Hall is owned separately.