A YORK poet has lost his lucky mascot and says he can't utter a verse without it.

Adrian Spendlow, 46, of Leeman Road, shares the stage with ragdoll models of himself and girlfriend, Sharon Emery.

But when he returned from a gig at the University of York he noticed his doll had disappeared.

Now the poet, who regularly appears at the Bay Horse, in Marygate, York, feels he may not be able to appear at Starbucks coffee shop in Coppergate this Sunday unless it is found.

He said: "I'm absolutely heartbroken. I won't be able to go on without me! I could have lost it anytime over the last few weeks.

"We keep the puppets on the wall at home. I looked up thinking my girlfriend's puppet looked lonely and then realised I'd lost it. I'm thinking of writing a poem about it."

The jazzy puppets were made by his daughter, Holly, as part of her art course at York College and hold great sentimental value.

Adrian's missing mascot is described as 18-inches tall, with a pointy nose, floppy beard, loud clothes and a book of poems in its hand.

Senior Starbuck's managers are due to attend Sunday's gig as Adrian is the first poet to perform verse in their UK premises.

His popular poems include, The Devil Still Walks and Reality Rippled.

"I would describe my poetry as wild and wacky," he said, "Maybe the audience only come to see my mascot!"

Anyone who finds the missing puppet telephone 01904 647086.

PICTURE: NO STRINGS ATTACHED: York poet Adrian Spendlow with the puppet of his girlfriend Sharon Emery. The puppet of himself has gone missing