A wooden sculpture of a character from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland book has been beheaded by vandals.

The chainsaw carving of Caterpillar at Spa Gardens in Ripon was created in November by artist Mick Burns, along with White Rabbit and Alice.

North Yorkshire Police said the rabbit had also been damaged.

Harrogate Borough Council commissioned the artwork in memory of the author, who was a “regular visitor” to Ripon.

Mr Burns said he thought the sculptures could be repaired.

“It’s not the first time it's happened with my sculptures, it comes with the territory,” he said.

Lewis Carroll visited the city regularly when his father was canon in residence at Ripon Cathedral.