A BRASS image of a grieving terrier embedded in a 128-year-old gravestone has been stolen from a graveyard in Irvine.

And Irvine Old Parish Church historian Billy Kerr has urged locals to help find the missing dog so it can be put back in place.

The brass plate of the terrier - regarded by some as Irvine's answer to Greyfriars Bobby - was discovered to be missing in recent weeks.

Irvine Times: How the dog appeared on the Celtic Cross

Billy said: "In the Old Parish churchyard is a celtic cross gravestone in memory of Albert Slewellyn Brayne, who died in 1895.

"Embedded into his stone was a quaint grieving brass terrier, most certainly his pet.

"Sadly, some trophy hunter has recently prized it out of the memorial, defacing the monument.

"If anyone comes across this dog......you know where its home is."

Albert Slewellyn Brayne was born in 1852 at Rodington, in the county of Salop (the old name for Shropshire).

He was a butler by profession who moved to Irvine in 1888 with wife Annie and young son, also Albert. In 1889 another son Gled was born.

Branye was the head servant to the fabulously wealthy Matheson family, who made their fortune with a fabric dying business.

He and his family lived at Gledcliffe Cottage in the Golffileds, known by later generations as Golffields Cottage.

Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died on 14 January 1872. 

His story has been turned into books and a film.

Irvine's Old Parish Kirkyard is renowned for its historical gravestones, dating back centuries and including members of Edgar Allan Poe's foster family, notable Irvine provosts and dignitaries, executed Covenanters, grave robbers, and victims of shipwrecks.

Irvine Times: The brass image has now been removed

If you have any information about the missing image, email us at editorial@irvinetimes.co.uk and we'll pass the details on to Billy.