VILLAGERS in Mildenhall have been upset this week at the loss of part of their heritage.

In the early hours of Saturday morning thieves stole a centuries old anvil that stood outside The Horseshoe pub.

Licensees John and Pam Desmond have been so devastated at the loss of the old anvil that showed their pub was once the village smithy that they have put up a £100 reward.

They had never contemplated the theft of the huge old anvil because of its weight, said Mr Desmond.

Many young men from the village had tried to demonstrate their strength over the years by attempting to lift the anvil. "None of them managed it," said Mr Desmond.

Members of the Barnett family who formerly ran the pub and, before that, the smithy have been saddened at the loss.

Peter Barnett, whose grandfather Herbert ran the village smithy, said: "I can remember it being there when I was a child and my mother used to tell me it was there when my father was a child."

Mr Barnett, 52, said his family ran the smithy behind what is now the village pub which for many years was an off-licence, and also ran a carpenters shop on the opposite side of the village high street.

He said: "Every time I walked in the pub I used to look at the anvil and think that my grandfather and perhaps even my late dad as well had worked on it."

Mr Barnett said the anvil would have weighed four hundredweight or more and took two very strong men to lift it. "I suspect it was stolen to order," he said.

Marks were left showing where the anvil was dragged from its resting place and across the pavement presumably, said Mr Desmond, to a waiting vehicle.

Neighbours heard sounds outside in the road at about 1.20am on Saturday. Police want to hear from anyone who was passing through the village and saw suspicious behaviour outside the pub on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday.

They particularly want to hear of any suspicious vehicles seen in the neighbourhood in the previous days when it's believed the theft was planned.

Anyone with information should contact Marlborough police station on (01672) 512311.