A wooden statue depicting Saint George riding on a horse above a downed dragon has been stolen from a Swanscombe pub.

The award-winning George and Dragon on London Road had put the statue outside while some renovation work was carried out.

But sometime between Sunday and Tuesday, the statue, which has been with the pub for the last 18 months, vanished.

Brewer James Hayward told the Messenger: “We’re going through the CCTV at the moment.

"He’d been put out the back for a bit of renovation and has been there for a couple of days but it was one of those things that you walk past everyday and don’t really notice.”

The pub boasts its own micro-brewery Caveman Brewery. It was created by businessmen and best friends Nick Byram and James Hayward because of their passion for good beer.

Last year, the George and Dragon was named as one of the top 150 local real ale pubs in the country and won the title of Gravesend and Darent Valley Camra’s pub of the year.

Anyone with information on where George and his dragon has gone can call the pub on 01322 386440.