A son is appealing for help to find a metal pheasant after it was taken from his father's grave.

Diss Mercury: Ronald Smith, father of Stephen Smith, as a young man. PHOTO: Stephen SmithRonald Smith, father of Stephen Smith, as a young man. PHOTO: Stephen Smith (Image: Archant)

Stephen Smith, of Eye, wrote an impassioned appeal on Facebook on Thursday which has since been shared more than 165 times.

The 61-year-old retired paramedic said: 'I had such a great response from so many people. My father just loved pheasants, he was in the country all his life.

'My niece put it on there, saved up her money to buy it, and it's been there 15 months. It was his birthday on October 25 so I took my mum up there, and it had been taken.'

Mr Smith's father, Ronald Smith, died aged 89 in 2016, is buried in Eye Cemetery. He returned to Eye after several years in Cyprus when Ronald fell ill.

Diss Mercury: Ronald Smith, father of Stephen Smith. PHOTO: Stephen SmithRonald Smith, father of Stephen Smith. PHOTO: Stephen Smith (Image: Archant)

He said: 'The police have been brilliant. I was so shocked that's been going on.'

Mr Smith would like anyone who has the pheasant to hand it in to the police.