Mayor launches hunt for lost piece of gold chain

A mayor has issued a rallying call for help to find a missing piece of his gold chain of office.

Robert Hastings, Mayor of Malmesbury in Wiltshire, noticed a small hole in the ceremonial jewellery, which dates back 100 years, after removing it following the town's carnival on 5 September.

He told Radio Wiltshire that volunteers had used metal detectors to try to track down the missing piece and that it would cost "quite a lot" to replace.

A "small reward" is being offered by Malmesbury Town Council for anyone who helps find the missing piece.

Council staff have analysed photos of the mayor from the carnival where he could be seen wearing the chain, to work out where it was last seen.

"We think it was on the junction of Park Road and Gloucester Road, going down to the football club. That's where we think it is. But because the piece is so small ...it could have ended up anywhere," Hastings said.

"We spent a whole afternoon with detecting machines last week and came up with a lot of coins but no bits of chain."

The mayor wears the chain to attend official engagements and while representing the community.

The missing piece is a gold piece of wheat and forms part of the Malmesbury crest; it sits next to an illustration of a castle.

"It was only when I was taking the chain off that I realised a small gold piece was missing – measuring about four inches - and must have come loose during the day when I was visiting various attractions," Hastings said.

"I am hoping someone may have spotted the missing part of the chain or perhaps picked it up without realising its significance."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.