February 27, 2001 9:58: ZANY villager Andy Dickinson has owned up to putting a Loch Ness monster in flooded fields near High Wycombe after it was brutally destroyed.

Andy, manager of the George and Dragon Hotel, West Wycombe, felt he had to admit to the prank after vandals struck on Wednesday night.

The 33-year-old said: "I'm disgusted it's a sickening act. How could anyone do this? It beggars belief."

Anonymous letters threatening to harm the animal, known by villagers as Wessie, were sent to West Wycombe's Post Office early last week.

Andy brought the creature, made from tractor tyres and wood, to the fields, off Bradenham Road, in the dead of night on Saturday, February 17.

The monster caused an immediate stir and last week attracted schoolchildren on their half-term break from across the High Wycombe area.

Greetings cards bearing photographs of the smiling serpent were also being sold in the village store.

Villagers and punters in the George and Dragon Hotel on Thursday were in mourning for Wessie.

Upset Ted Ross, of Chorley Road, said: "The people responsible for attacking Wessie are the same sort who go round knocking down snowmen.

"They should be ashamed of themselves it's just not cricket."

Rosalind Hilborne, of Hilborne's Newsagent, High Street, West Wycombe, had received a letter threatening to harm the animal.

She said: "When I opened the door this morning, there was a letter pushed underneath it saying Nessie would be destroyed if we did not get the Free Press but it got destroyed before we had time to reach you."

But Andy promises the beast is set to resurface.

"The beast is now safe in hiding," he said. "People haven't seen the last of Wessie.

"He'll be back. I'm going to put him somewhere safer, so keep your eyes open."

James Cox