New weather vane following cock-a-doodle-whodunnit

Residents of Cupar are expected to be crowing after the announcement of plans to replace a much-loved landmark.

A new weather vane is being fabricated to sit atop the burgh chambers, two months after the original was stolen by daredevil thieves.

The golden cockerel was pinched by criminals who scaled scaffolding outside the building shortly after contractors had reattached it following a refurbishment.

It was repainted in bright gold leaf and contractors said at the time that it may have been snatched in the belief that the vane was constructed out of solid gold.

Despite a police investigation, there remains no clue as to who may have taken the weather vane or where it might be.

Paul Higginson, from Cupar-based Arc Architects, said: “We have not heard anything from the police and nobody has walked in with it, so a replacement is now being fabricated.

“Some really good photographs were taken at the time of the refurbishment and these are being used to get a replacement made.”

The weather vane is thought to have first been installed in 1823, eight years after the construction of the burgh chambers.

Proudly perched upon the building’s distinctive dome, the cockerel had just been restored to its traditional perch as part of work to transform the complex into holiday apartments.

External work at the site began earlier this year as part of a complete overhaul of the complex. The work will see its distinctive pink paint removed and original stonework restored.

The cockerel was painted in bright gold leaf.