THE THEFT of a time-lapse camera recording the installation of a new bridge in Charminster has been labelled 'pointless vandalism'.

The Environment Agency has been working with Dorset County Council over recent weeks to demolish and rebuild the grade two listed bridge at East Hill in a bid to alleviate flooding problems in the area.

The neighbouring grade one listed church was destroyed by flooding in January last year after the River Cerne burst its banks.

The Environment Agency has been charting the works with a time-lapse camera but it has been taken from the site and the organisation is appealing for any information on what has happened to it.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "A time-lapse camera installed by the Environment Agency to record the demolition and subsequent rebuilding of grade two listed Charminster bridge has been stolen.

"As part of a scheme with Dorset County Council to reduce flood risk in the village, the camera was programmed to take still photographs of construction work at set intervals to provide a valuable record for the community and an important cultural and historic resource

"The equipment is protected against use by unauthorised persons and is of little value to others. We appeal to anyone who knows of its whereabouts to let us know."

Local district councillor Tim Yarker, who lives in the village, hit out at the person who took the camera.

He said: "It's obviously going to have disrupted the record of the bridge being built which would be not only useful for the archives but also for future projects.

"Also it's of no value to anybody else so essentially it's been an act of pointless vandalism.

"It's a great shame when the Environment Agency and county council are doing such a good job in replacing the bridge."

Parts of the bridge are believed to date back to the 16th century and Dorset County Council and the Environment Agency required the approval of English Heritage before the improvement works were given the go-ahead, with West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin involved in the negotiations.

The bridge works are expected to be completed in early October.

Inspector Steve Marsh of Dorchester Police urged anyone with information about the location of the camera to contact Dorset Police on 101.

He added: "The whole idea was to capture all the hard work which they have been doing so whoever has taken it I'm sure the Environment Agency and the local community would like it returned."

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