Reward offered for return of unique model steam engine

A £500 reward has been offered to help return a unique model steam engine which has been stolen from an Ashburton hotel.

The one-of-a-kind model was taken from a storage container in the grounds of the Lavender House Hotel on the afternoon of 19 March.

Now a reward has been offered by the engine owner for information that will lead to its return and the capture of the offenders.

The engine is a working model replica of a 1920s American steam engine. It measures 850mm in length and is 500mm tall, and weighs around 200lbs.

It has a timber-cased boiler with brass straps and has a four wheel bogie on the front with a main drive wheel. The engine contains a large steel platform at the front and the metal parts are painted in red, black and blue.

Police are appealing for information from anyone who saw anything suspicious around the hotel between 2pm and 3pm on the day of the burglary.

They would particularly like to speak to anyone who has been offered the model engine for sale or knows of its whereabouts.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, quoting crime reference JA/14/255.