Children 'heartbroken' by Superlambanana theft

Police are on the trail of a superlambanana sculpture stolen from a garden.

The sculpture, a hybrid of a sheep and a banana, was taken from the front garden of a home in Runcorn, Cheshire on 29 March, police said.

Owner James Bowman, 37, said his son, eight, and daughter, three, were "heartbroken" and "we'd just like it back".

Superlambananas became a symbol of Liverpool's Capital of Culture year in 2008, with many of the sculptures placed around the city.

He said the family had had the concrete sculpture for about five years and their children enjoyed painting it every year and putting it out on display in the garden.

"I can't see it having any monetary value. It's purely of sentimental value to us," he said.

He said the family were touched that people had messaged to say how much they enjoyed seeing the superlambanana on their walks.

The rainbow design included the children's handprints, the apprentice accountant added.

The superlambanana was designed in 1998 by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo as part of the Artranspennine festival.

The design is said to have been a comment on the potential dangers of genetic engineering, as well as representing some of the cargo which came through the city's port.

When Liverpool was made European Capital of Culture 2008 more than 100 of the sculptures were decorated by artists, groups and individuals and displayed as part of a Go Superlambananas trail across the city.

Seventy of them were later auctioned off, with some of the items selling for more than £20,000.

A number of Superlambananas can still be seen across the city, including a 17 foot (5.18m) sculpture on Tithebarn Street which was painted in the colours of the Ukraine flag when the Eurovision Song Contest was held in 2023.

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