Twenty four rare Hertfordshire Puddingstones cherished by the community have been stolen from a city centre museum site.

The stones, which are said to be about 54 million years old, were taken between April 2 and April 14 from the former St Albans museum’s gardens on Hatfield Road.

PC Sean Lannon, who is investigating, said: “It is part of our county’s heritage so we are doing all we can to ensure that these stones are returned to the museum.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area between the times stated to please get in touch.

“I’d also like to hear from anyone who may have been offered the rocks for sale or anyone who feels they might know who is responsible for this crime.”

Hertfordshire Puddingstone is a naturally occurring conglomerate consisting of rounded flint pebbles bound in silica cement, found mostly within the county.

The rare stones were donated by a church in the 1970s, and get their name from their flints, which resemble the plums in a Christmas pudding.

If you have any information, please contact the police on the non-emergency number 101 or anonymously on 0800 555 111.