MYSTERY surrounds the disappearance of Uri Geller's spoon statue 10 days after it was installed as his parting gift to Sonning.

The seven foot red steel sculpture was reported missing yesterday in the wake of the news the spoon-bending psychic failed to gain the relevant planning permission.

Residents of the village offered mixed reactions when the piece was unveiled as Mr Geller left to return to Israel after 30 years of living in Berkshire.

Last week the Chronicle revealed the statue did not have the required planning permission but a spokesman for Wokingham Borough Council said the authority had nothing to do with its removal.

She said: "The borough council hasn't had anything to do with it and we haven't asked him to remove it."

The stretch of land on the tow path of the Thames where the giant utensil was mounted is currently owned by the Environment Agency.

A spokesman for the group said they too had not asked Mr Geller to remove the statue.

Paul Wells, the artist who created the piece, said: "The statue is Mr Geller's property. He contacted me and asked me to make it. He told me he had all the required permission."

Following its installation a dog walker who lives in Sonning, who did not wish to be named, said: "You can't just stick stuff up without debate and I didn't think he had got permission from the council.

"I think the whole thing is a bit inappropriate, the colour is inappropriate and it would look better if it was rusted.

"He has just done it for self promotion."

Another said: "I think he should have got planning permission. I don't like it - it's ridiculous."

However, another woman using the towpath last week, said: "Shame about the colour but it would be a shame to take it down."