Baby lambanana goes missing from display

The Super Lamb Banana was the original work of Japanese-based artist Taro Chiezo. Commissioned for the Art Transpennine Exhibition of 1998, the sculpture was a controversial, but welcome addition to the public art arena in Liverpool. Standing an impressive seventeen feet tall and comprised of concrete and steel, the statue first attracted interest from its original position on the Strand. The unusual artwork was created to warn of the dangers of genetically modified food, whilst being appropriate to the city of Liverpool due to the port's rich history in the trade of lambs and the import of bananas.

About 125 replicas of the yellow sculpture made by Japanese artist Taro Cheizo have been placed around the city centre and suburbs.

They have been decorated by artists, schools and community groups and will be on display over the next 10 weeks as part of public art project Go Superlambananas.

The missing sculpture is one of a group called A Herd Day's Night.

The Superlambanana was one of several decorated as a workman in a hard hat and fluorescent jacket as part of the Capital of Culture celebrations.

It had been screwed down next to its mother outside Maghull Developments on Hope Street, but vanished on Sunday.