A popular wooden sculpture of Neptune at Stanton Park has been found severely damaged

The country park is home to a number of hand-made wooden sculptures made by sculptist Darren Tilley and hundreds of visitors go there to see his creations. 

But one family was shocked to discover the sculpture resembling a merman which was named Neptune deliberately damaged. 

The head looked like it had been cleanly cut off and then the head had been further cut into two and left in the area. 

The sculpture's hand and Neptune's iconic trident have also been removed but were not found at the scene. 

Swindon Advertiser: Char Morgan's discoveryChar Morgan's discovery

32-year-old Char Morgan was walking through the park with her 10-year-old son Harvey when they came across the damaged statue.

"My son was so sad to see this," she said. 

"He even tried to fix it by trying to stand the head back on. I was just really disappointed that someone would do this.

"I just don't understand who is walking through the park with an axe.

"I was worried all the animal ones would be damaged too but so far they are ok."

Char posted the picture onto Facebook which drew a strong response from the community, with people left angry or in shock. 

Read: Fire damaged tree becomes stunning sculpture

This particular sculpture was created from the remains of a burnt-out tree with Tilley working on it from November 2019 through to the next year. 

Camera club member Jan Jelley even provided some pictures of the tree that had been filled with concrete before and then the work-in-progress.

Swindon Advertiser: The fire damaged tree and then what it was being turned intoThe fire damaged tree and then what it was being turned into

Neptune isn't the only sculpture from the park to be damaged fairly recently, as the impressive Every Cloud Caterpillar was discovered collapsed and in pieces last October. 

Swindon Community Notice Board member Tracy Brett posted the unwelcome update on the sculpture's destruction, alleging in the post it was caused by 'mindless vandals'.

Dozens of people commented, bemoaning how someone could act that way. 

Swindon Advertiser:

Swindon Borough Council and Swindon Rangers have been approached for comment and an update on both the damage to Neptune and the demise of Caterpillar.

David Tilley has also been approached for comment.