A BENCH has been stolen from a well-loved village hall in Sopley.

Dorset Police have received a report of a bench stolen from Sopley Parish Hall on the evening of Monday August 8.

The chair of Sopley Parish Hall Committee, Caroline Paul, has said the theft has left the villagers "very concerned".

She said: "On Monday evening after only being in place for half a day our new wooden commissioned bench with a plaque to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee was stolen.

"It's a very poor disturbing situation and the villagers are very concerned."

A spokesperson for the force said: “We received a report from a member of the public after a bench was allegedly stolen from Sopley Parish Hall on Priest Lane at around 9pm on Monday 8 August.

"The incident has been filed, pending further information coming to light, in which case, the investigation could be re-opened.

"Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has CCTV or dash-cam footage around the time of the incident is asked to call 101, quoting crime reference number 44220321250.”