Thieves have snatched a 30-stone statue from a Wilsden graveyard, causing fury among residents.

The 4ft white-marble memorial depicting a little girl holding a teddy bear vanished from the family grave of one of the village's most respected forefathers.

It commemorated the life of Robert Davies who was the village schoolmaster for almost 40 years before his death in 1914.

Janet O'Hara, whose house in Laneside overlooks the cemetery, said she would see the statue 'glowing' at night and was angry to see it had disappeared.

"Because it was the only statue of its kind, and the only white marble one, it would stand out a mile and glow in the moonlight - it was beautiful," she said.

"It's disgraceful and very sad to think someone will have come along intending to steal it as it would have been far too heavy for just one person to carry."

She said she has lived in Wilsden for 58 years and had never heard of anything being stolen from the cemetery before.

Colin Marshall, who also lives near the graveyard, said: "I can't believe people would stoop so low. There are some fine monuments in there, but this one was unique. It's disgusting that someone would even dream of taking it, but no doubt by now it's stood in someone's back garden."

Village Society member Norman Barwick said the tribute was an important part of the village's history and would be sorely missed. "We just want it returned to its rightful place," he said.

Council leader Margaret Eaton (Cons, Bingley Rural) said the theft was 'barbaric' and called on residents to keep an eye on the cemetery for any further incidents. "It's a very sad world when people can't respect the dead and the lives they've led," she said.

Local historian Gary Firth said the statue marked the life of Robert Davies who was schoolmaster at Wilsden Board School.

"He was quite a father figure in Wilsden and people would go to him with their problems," he said.

Tony Smith, business development manager at Aire Valley Memorials in Nab Wood, said a monument of similar size would weigh about 200kg, 31 stone, and cost about £900.

"It would take about three men to carry it but first they would have to remove it from the plinth, to which it would be attached with cement or with a dowel through the centre of the statue," he said.

Mr Davies' wife Eleanor and son George, who died in infancy, are also buried in the grave.

The graveyard was once attached to St Matthew's church which was pulled down in the 1960s.

A police spokesman said anyone with information about the statue can telephone Keighley police on (01535) 617059.