Outcry as thieves ride off with stable block carving

The carving was taken from the top of the stables over the Christmas period

Nonetheless, a large stone carving of a horse has been stolen from the top of a listed, council-owned 18th-century stable building.

Residents close to Redhall House stables say thieves would have needed heavy equipment to remove the carved tablet from its pedestal, several metres off the ground.

It is feared that the stone, which is just under a metre square, has been taken for its value as architectural salvage.

Police are investigating the theft and have called for anyone with information to come forward.

The stables lie close to Redhall House in Craiglockhart, which was sold to Miller Homes for redevelopment in 2007. The council-owned stables are currently empty and are also due to be sold for development.

They are Grade C listed and lie in a secluded spot close to the Water of Leith.

Craiglockhart Community Council chairman Alan Dickson said the isolation of the spot and the timing of the theft over the Christmas period meant it had taken some time to spot the stone was missing and be sure it had been stolen.

"We reckon this happened some time in December," he said. "It's right in the corner of the site and you don't immediately notice it if you're passing in the other direction. One of our council members noticed it and made inquiries of the council as to whether they'd removed it."

Council officials confirmed that they had not moved the stone, and Miller Homes representatives also said they had not removed it, so the theft was reported to police by the city council.

Mr Dickson said: "The house and stables date from the mid-18th century, so they're a historic monument in our community. It's an elegant and distinctive feature of the area. It was in a corner three or four metres high, we all knew that it was there and we're very sad that someone's just appropriated it for themselves.

"It's a theft, and it's a theft of part of our heritage. We feel that it's worth proper investigation - house-to-house inquiries within 500 metres or so to find out, did anyone see anything?"

A police spokeswoman said: "Lothian and Borders Police are investigating the theft of a stone sculpture of a horse from Redhall House Stables sometime between 3pm on Christmas Eve and January 10 at 3pm.

"Inquiries are ongoing and police are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward, either by contacting the force direct on 0131-311 3131, or through the charity Crimestoppers, in confidence and complete anonymity, on 0800 555 111."

Redhall House itself, which was originally built in 1758, later became Graysmill School and Cairnpark children's home, and was briefly used for council staff training prior to being sold. It is currently boarded up, and homes have been built in the grounds.

A spokesman for the city council said: "We have reported this as a theft and it's now in the hands of the police."