COUNCIL chiefs have been left red-faced after the theft of a £1,000 commemorative bench from one of their depots went unreported for up to three months.

The hexagonal bench, which was in storage at a Chiltern District Council depot, in London Road, Amersham, is believed to have been stolen sometime between August 21, and October 12, last year.

But the bench, commissioned and funded as a piece of public art by the council, was only noticed as missing when workmen picking it up for installation failed to find it.

Council chiefs did not report the theft to the police until November 14.

Furious councillors are now demanding answers as to how the six-sided seat was able to disappear without trace - and why it was not insured.

Cllr Mimi Harker (Con, Chesham Bois and Weedon Hill), said she was furious the could go walkabout from council property without the alarm being raised sooner.

She said: "I just don't understand how something like this could happen in our own premises - it's absolutely astonishing. It makes you wonder what else could have gone missing.

"I want to know why something was kept in storage for that amount of time without being insured. Anyway who knew it was there? Maybe it was stolen to order."

The steel and oak bench was commissioned by the council for its millennium project, Chiltern Heritage Trail, which included a series of art works inspired by the community. It was to be sited at Cholesbury Common, Cholesbury.

The council is now considering splashing out another £1,500 to replace the stolen artwork - the original artist is asking £500 in extra fees to remake the seats.

But Cllr David Meacock (Con, Chalfont St Peter), said the council should not pay the artist any more than it did the first time.

He explained: "If the original artist won't make the things to the same price then we should get someone else who will."

The theft is still under police investigation but Peter Mudge, spokesman for Chiltern District Council, confirmed it was not reported because no-one realised it had gone missing until it was due to be moved.