A TINY bronze figure left at a Worcester memorial to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme went missing - within just 24 hours.

The little polished soldier, holding a red brass poppy and measuring just 50mm tall, was left at the war memorial in Gheluvelt Park as part of a wider project by British sculptor Nic Joly.

It was one of 141 figures left at memorials all over Britain and abroad to mark the 141 days of the Battle of the Somme.

The figures were not secured but left, partly hidden, to remind people that every life lost was a golden one.

However, a label was attached to the sculpture explaining the project and asking that people left them alone for others to discover and appreciate.

The 141 soldiers were left at secret locations in the hope that people would be inspired to go out and search for them.

Only one was placed in the whole of Worcestershire and it was left at Gheluvelt Park on the afternoon of Friday, July 15 but had disappeared by Saturday evening.

Nick Martin, community fundraiser for the Royal British Legion said: "It’s such a shame that the figure is no longer in place at the memorial.

"We wanted everyone to be able to find and see it and be moved by what it stood for as a monument to our brave fallen, who gave their all for us."

He added that the project was about raising awareness, making people stop, remember and think about what happened 100 years ago, and ensure that the lost lives were never forgotten.

Mr Martin said the figure's disappearance had not been reported to the police after discussions with the sculptor.

He urged anyone who had it to return it and said he hoped it might have been taken by mistake.

The Battle of the Somme took place between July 1 1916 and November 18 on both sides of the River Somme in France. More than a million men were killed or injured in the bloody World War One battle.

Mr Martin also appealed for volunteers who could help support the Royal British Legion in Claines, St John's and the city.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the figure or is willing to volunteer can contact him by emailing nmartin@britishlegion.org.uk or calling 07721 432 921.