No porkies, Jack the Pig's gone

For five years Jack the Pig has been a much-loved landmark outside his owner's home attracting admirers from around the globe.

But after suddenly vanishing from his usual spot perched on top of a wall his fans are now pulling out all the stops to find him.

Owners of the legendary statue, Ron and Janet Bradley of The Straits, Lower Gornal, in the Black Country have been inundated with visits from puzzled residents wondering what has happened to the popular porker.

Mrs Bradley, who is aged 70, said: "We have had a lot of people knock on the door and ask where he is. He has become quite a legend and people have become very fond of him. He has been missed," she went on to say.

The Pig on the Wall has proved so popular with locals that each year Christmas and New Year cards arrive for him. The Bradleys, who regularly dressed Jack in various costumes reflecting the different events on the calendar, had even received a card from France.

But they discovered the concrete pig had become the victim of a kidnapping after finding he was missing on Tuesday morning.

Mrs Bradley believes that it would have taken two people to remove the statue, which is heavy and bolted to the wall.

"I think they would have needed to take a crowbar to it," she said.

"I don't think it would be anybody from Gornal. There is not any value to it, it is just something that has given people a lot of pleasure. He has been on television, he has been featured everywhere. We dressed him up when England were playing in the World Cup. We have still got a big box of all his clothes."

Jack had taken pride of place on the garden wall since 2003, when Mr Bradley decided to revive the Gornal legend about the man who put his pig on wall to watch the band go by.

The 74-year-old had asked a garden ornament maker in Five Ways, Lower Gornal to make the statue after seeing a similar one in Gospel End Road, Sedgley, and deciding it was time somebody had one in Gornal.

Jack soon proved such a big hit with people driving past that they even bought him Christmas presents, including new clothes, an umbrella and wine.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Jack can call our reporters on 01384 353201.