They have become a popular feature at Norfolk's biggest carnival in recent years.

But now their creator is trying to piece together the evidence after his award-winning Mr and Mrs Lego costumes were stolen.

Since 2011, they have been worn at Cromer Carnival by husband and wife James and Sue Garwood, attracting attention and prizes.

But the outfits have been stolen from North Walsham Community Centre.

The two perfectly-scaled costumes had been lent to North Walsham Beavers by Mr Garwood, but both the bodies and heads of the costumes were nowhere to be found when they were due to be picked up.

'I made them as life-size replicas of a Mr and Mrs Lego pair my wife and I were given for our wedding in 2010. I wanted to scale them up for the carnival and we've worn them every year since,' the Southrepps resident said.

He added: 'I don't know why someone would steal them. They can't wear them out because they're so easily recognised, and I'd be gutted if someone threw out all my hard work - they took me about 30 hours to make.

'My kids love them as well, particularly my three-year-old, who's just getting into Lego.'

Mr Garwood said he believed it was a calculated move by the thief: 'They must've seen the costumes and liked them, and wanted them for themselves. They must've known where they were, and also known that the community centre was left open at a certain time for my colleague to go and pick them up in his van. They're really big costumes, you can't fit them in a car.'

The Norfolk Workshop employee added: 'The thing is I lend them to people all the time, the costume shop in Cromer, the Beavers and so on, if people want to try them I would've let them borrow it.

'If they were returned to me I'd welcome it with open arms, I just really want them back in time for the Cromer Carnival, because you can hear how much the children love to see them. It's really restored my faith in humanity that so many people have tried to help find them.'

He added: 'I put an appeal out on Facebook in the hope that it would raise awareness. I haven't got the police involved yet but I will if I have to.'

? If you have information, email eleanor.pringle@archant.co.uk