Absolutely heinous news to wake up to this Monday as it appears someone has sliced a Paddington Bear statue in half and stolen it from a bench in Berkshire.

The sculpture, one of a number of Paddington statues dotted across the UK, was taken from a bench in Northbrook Street, Newbury, at about 2am in the morning, according to Thames Valley Police.

Get a look at these diabolical scenes (warning = highly distressing images). I can only half bear to look…

The good news is that the scumbags who violated this sculpture and stole 1/2 of a hollow bear statue have already been located and arrested – two 22-year-old men from Basingstoke who remain in police custody on suspicion of theft and criminal damage. Better yet – police have also retrieved the missing half of the Paddington Bear statue. Result!

Investigating officer Inspector Alan Hawkett, of the Neighbourhood Policing Team, based at Newbury police station, said:

‘The Paddington Bear statue is a beloved part of Newbury so we have been doing everything we can to locate it and the offenders.

‘I am delighted we have made two arrests and recovered the statue, which we will keep safe and support its restoration to its rightful place in Northbrook Street.’

The neigbourhood groups that were in absolute meltdown are now celebrating the incoming return of their beloved Paddington Bear statue, sharing the following messages to Thames Valley Police:

 ‘Thank you TVP for doing your upmost in what has been very heartbreaking for so many Newbury residents – glad to hear it wasn’t overlooked as a petty crime ….it has incensed so many.’

‘Well done TVP – My 5 year old son’s been asking me for updates since afternoon and was really sad that it was gone . He will be thrilled to hear this in the morning. Thank you!’

‘Fantastic that Paddington is back in one piece and having marmalade sandwiches.’

All’s well that ends well eh? The question is what these two lads were going to do with half a Paddington Bear statue in the first place? Were they going to superglue it onto their own bench? Did they just toss it into a bush somewhere?

Whatever their motive, it’s another sad reminder of why the rest of us cannot have nice things. Here’s hoping poor Paddington can be properly repaired and returned to the bench where he can act both as a landmark and an anti-homeless bench bear. Well played everyone.

For unreal footage of an influencer getting trapped in a bear cave just as the bear returns home, click HERE.