£1,000 reward to find arsonist who wrecked dinosaur
The shocking destruction of Southsea's giant dinosaur has prompted businesses to offer a £1,000 reward and a year's free pizza for information about those responsible.
Burned down early on Friday morning in what is believed to be an arson attack, the ultrasaurus sculpture only had nine days to go before it was due to leave for Colchester.
Now a Facebook page dedicated to the dinosaur's memory, called RIP Southsea Dinosaur, has attracted more than 8,500 members in just two days.
The Betting Room, in Albert Road, and Fry & Kent estate agents, in Stanley Street, have pledged rewards of 750 and 250 respectively, and are calling on other businesses to do the same.
Mozzarella Joes, the dinosaur's closest neighbour, has also offered free pizzas for a year to anyone coming forward with information.
Fry & Kent director Neil Maxwell said: 'We are incensed that something that brought so much joy to people of all ages could have been ruined like this. It is utterly senseless.
'We hope that other businesses and individuals will join with us in offering a reward to catch the people who did this.
'We also hope that when they are caught the courts will make an example of them to reflect the passion aroused by this senseless act.'
Owner of the Betting Room Peter Higgins said it was tragic for the city to lose such a unique tourist attraction.
He said: 'In classic Portsmouth style we have shot ourselves in the foot.
'We are in a city which needs to encourage more tourism and this is going to make people ask what the point is of creating great attractions like this, if they are just going to get destroyed.
'It has made all of us very angry that people can do something like this, probably thinking it's funny, without even considering all the people and children who enjoyed it.'
Student Steve Williams, 16, of Garnier Street, Landport, who started the Facebook group in honour of the dinosaur, said: 'I went to bed on Saturday and the group had around 200 members, only to wake up the following day with 5,000.
'People really felt strongly because it was just so different.'
Anyone with information should call Southsea police station on 101.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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