A £1,000 reward has been offered for the safe return of “completely irreplaceable” puppets belonging to world-renowned Cornish theatre company Kneehigh.

The puppets were being stored in the company’s bans in Gorran Haven.

It is understood that Sarah Wright, who helped make the puppets, had gone to collect them for a workshop as part of the Curious School of Puppetry festival that has been taking place in and around Falmouth since January and runs until mid-March.

She discovered that four puppets and a carved wooden marionette were missing, along with some costumes including suits and a golden sequin jacket.

The group has now put out an appeal for helping in finding them, saying: “We are deeply saddened to lose them as they are of great sentimental value to their makers and us.

“If anyone has seen anything suspicious or has any leads, please get in touch. Anonymous return welcome.”

The puppets missing are two ‘Oskar’ puppets from the show The Tin Drum and two Red Girl puppets, both pictured.

Kneehigh’s head of communications and development Chloe Rickard told industry website The Stage that the puppets were of huge sentimental value and “completely irreplaceable.”

A reward of £1,000 has been offered for their safe return to the company’s head office in Truro.

Kneehigh can be contacted on 01872 267910 or emailed via office@kneehigh.co.uk