ONE OF THE best-known sculptures along the Camel Trail has been destroyed by arsonists.

The giant aluminium fish near the Wenford Clay Driers was designed by children from St Tudy Primary School several years ago when they worked on a project with renowned sculptor Richard Austin.

Police believe the artwork was set alight on Saturday night and are appealing for any information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible.

The 15ft-long, 8ft-high sculpture was popular with walkers, a number of whom contacted the police on Sunday.

Mr Austin said he was devastated to learn that it had been destroyed. "This must have been a planned attack because it is very difficult to randomly set fire to aluminium,'' he said. "It looks as if flammable material was pushed into the body of the fish and ignited. The temperatures must have been intense to melt aluminium. I'm just baffled why anyone would want to do this – it's devastating really."

He said he felt very sorry for the children from St Tudy who had worked so hard on the project. "It was their big project. They designed it and I basically put it together for them."

Mr Austin said little could be done to prevent works of art from being attacked. "People often ask me if a sculpture can be made vandal-proof. But it is almost impossible if someone is minded to do it."

Mr Austin said there was already an idea to create a new 'phoenix' fish sculpture to rise from the ashes – but this time made of concrete.

PC Neil Crook, neighbourhood beat manager for the St Breward area, asked anyone who had seen suspicious activity around the car park near where the giant fish stood to contact him at Bodmin police station on 08452 777 444.